SP2.9 An Audit on Implementation of Electronic Autofilling in Consent Forms for Liver Resections in a Tertiary Center

Abstract

Abstract Background As part of the GMC’s Good Medical Practice guidelines, benefits and risks should be discussed and documented accurately and in their entirety on a consent form. It is common for rarer or less significant complications or additional procedures to be missed from consent forms. Within the hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery team at Manchester Royal Infirmary, there has been a drive to evaluate the quality of the consenting process and documentation, as well as to understand the impact of the introduction of HIVE electronic patient record (EPR). Our aim is to standardize the consent forms to ensure all pertinent information are included. Methods We performed a comparison of documented risks and additional procedures against gold standard NICE guidance for liver resections performed by the HPB surgery department at Manchester Royal Infirmary. We evaluated paper consent forms from July to September 2022(n=9), electronically signed consent forms obtained from ‘HIVE’ from September to November 2022(n=29) and from December 2022 (n=19) we introduced ‘smart texts’ automated consent forms. Simple descriptive statistical analysis were used. Results Out of 20 documented risks and additional procedures, 15 were documented more frequently in consent forms following a transition to electronic patient records. Following ‘smart texts’, there was a further improvement in 14 of these risks and additional procedures. Particularly marked increase in documentation of additional procedures such as drains, lines and catheter insertion. Conclusions The introduction of HIVE and ‘smart texts’ have markedly improved the quality of the consenting process. We should be more comprehensive in educating patients about additional procedures that may be required.