Elaine Cummins, Ward Manager - Isiris Scope by Coloplast

Discover her experience with Isiris α

Elaine Cummins is ward manager at Hammersmith Hospital (United Kingdom). Her role involves the management of the day case unit, looking after patients and removing stents post transplants.

Isiris α does improve the patient experience in a positive way.

The patient pathway is easier. It is more cost effective for our trust. It is very simple and easy to use.

It is a very fast procedure with very little pain involved.

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What pressures did this place on the partners or trust?

“This place had an awful lot of pressure on the service and the trust. Patients would sometimes end up with infections because the stent had been in for far too long. They would then have to be admitted or they would end up on antibiotic therapy. The challenges of reprocessing the equipment is there are only two scopes available to theatres and if they are in use by anybody in theatres then they would have to be then sent down to endoscopy to be cleaned, brought back up to theatres, which would again cause long delays for patients.”

What difference has Isiris α made to your service?

“Isiris α made an enormous positive impact to our service. The pathway for the patients now is that they are immediately referred for stent removal post surgery, put on the waiting list, and usually seen within four to six weeks. They come to the unit (the day case unit) on the day of stent removal. They do not go to the OR (operating room), they stay with us. They are seen by myself or Mr Muthusamy and are consented for the procedure.
We explain the procedure to them and they are given prophylactic antibiotics. The stent is removed. They pass urine once and then go home. Financially. It has positive effects on the department as well it is cheaper for me.

It is more financially astute to have me do it rather than a consultant. My role has expanded. All round, it is positive. Recently, we have had actually our consultant surgeons ask to borrow the Isiris α system in theatre because it was quicker and more efficient for them to do so on the day.”

As a nurse, how did you come to take ownership of this procedure?

“At the moment, I have removed over 100 stents myself. I have assisted in over 400, so I am almost at the end of my training. I just have to get signed off and I am done. The advice we give to patients is that it is a very fast procedure, very little pain involved.
Patients that have had previous transplants and this is their second time around for transplant and previously, they may have had their stent removed in the theater setting, possibly under sedation or general anaesthetic.
This time around, when they come to our unit to have their stent removed, they are quite surprised, it is actually done on the unit and they do not have to go anywhere else. And they are turn in and out, so quickly.”

Do you feel Isiris α improves the patient’s experience?

“Absolutely, Isiris α does improve the patient experience in a positive way obviously. Like I said, the patient’s time is precious, their pathway is easier for them. They are not so anxious when they know they do not have to go to theatre. They do not have the big lights hanging over their heads. It is just in a small room and it is in and out: quick!”

Would you recommend Isiris α to other healthcare professionals?

“I would recommend isiris α to other healthcare professionals. The patient pathway is easier. It is more cost effective for our trust. It is very simple and easy to use.”

Do you feel that your job has evolved with the introduction of this Isiris α?

“I do feel my job has evolved with the introduction of Isiris α. Obviously as the ward manager, I have to make sure the ward runs smoothly. But me taking on this service, it ensures that this service does run smoothly: I can do how I want, when I want, and I can do as many patients as I choose.”

What was the previous patient pathway for stent removal?

“The previous pathway for the patients would be: they would be seen in clinic post-transplant up to four weeks post-transplant. Then, they would be referred to have their stent removed, which could take a further two to four weeks. They would then be put on a theatre list, come to the day case unit and possibly wait most of the day to have their stent removed.”

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