The Challenge
West Yorkshire Community Healthcare Trust operates across 12 community hospitals and surgical centers, providing day surgery and post-operative care for a population of 850,000. Post-operative urinary retention (POUR) represented a significant challenge, affecting 15-20% of surgical patients and causing delayed discharges, patient discomfort, and increased costs. The Trust needed a cost-effective solution that could be deployed across multiple sites, used by staff with varying experience levels, and integrated into existing post-operative care protocols. Budget constraints required a solution that delivered clinical benefits while remaining affordable for widespread implementation.
The Solution
The Trust implemented a standardized bladder scanning program using the HD2 Handheld Bladder Scanner across all surgical sites. The HD2 was selected for its combination of clinical accuracy, affordability, and ease of use. The Trust purchased 15 units, allocating them based on surgical volume at each site. A comprehensive training program ensured all post-operative nursing staff could perform bladder scans competently. The Trust developed standardized protocols for post-operative bladder assessment, with defined scanning intervals and intervention thresholds. The HD2's Expert and Easy modes accommodated both experienced and novice users, ensuring consistent results across the organization.
The Results
"The HD2 bladder scanner program has been one of our most successful quality improvement initiatives. We've achieved better patient outcomes, reduced complications, and saved significant costs, all while improving the patient experience. The affordability of the HD2 meant we could implement this across our entire Trust rather than limiting it to a few high-volume sites. It's become standard practice in our post-operative care, and our staff wouldn't want to work without it."