JET5 Terms-based Anaesthesia Logbook
Why is it different?
Traditional Anaesthesia Logbooks have always been case-based, each record being a set of database fields for patient details, techniques, procedures, and other activity relating to that case. These logbooks obviously work well for simple theatre-case-based activity, but struggle when asked to record the complex mixture of activities that represent current anaesthetic practice in a busy hospital.
A terms-based logbook provides a fundamentally different structure which is supremely flexible, allows for very fast data entry, and is almost infinitely extensible. Terms-set updates can provide large amounts of new entry definitions without ever breaking your older data. It is also inherently more secure because procedure data are not linked to case data.
JET5's terms-set incorporates the only anaesthesia-focused classification of surgical procedures. This is currently not part of SNOMED-CT but we are grateful for the partial mapping to that terms-set which has been done by Dr Andrew Norton. The full up-to-date terms-set can be viewed in the Logbook screens.
Designed for Consultants
Trainees should use the official case-based College Logbook which is part of their interface with the RITA process.
Consultants, however, are required by the Appraisal process to supply evidence of "Indicative Workload". The JET5 Logbook provides a convenient and flexible way of doing this, and may save you time you currently spend documenting all the additional stuff you do in addition to whatever output reports you get from your hospital's Clinical Information System.
The Interface
There are currently 691 terms in the Terms Set. These are displayed in a logical tree-structure. Data input and reporting is done using these terms under 3 headings.
- Clinical Journal
- Clinical Logbook
- SPA
Clinical Logbook entries are dated but not timed. For example: "cystoscopy, cystoscopy, cystoscopy, LMA, LMA, COETT, arterial line, caudal block, HDU patient admission: sepsis, prone position, zygomatico-facial nerve block, intra-hospital patient transfer", etc.
SPA entries are dated and timed (start & finish times). For example: "Departmental Meeting (17:00 - 18:30), Critical Incident Reporting (08:00 - 08:30), Reviewing Manuscripts for Learned Journals (18:00 - 22:00)"", etc.
Entries can have a text note attached.
This flexible structure allows all your working time to be accounted for without burdening you by requiring start/finish times for things like individual LA blocks or cases (significantly long cases have their own term you can add). You are also protected from over-detailed entries: for example "foot surgery" will suffice for anaesthetists: the subtle technical differences between different foot operations are irrelevant—your detailed anaesthetic activity is very relevant.
Try it and see
If you are used to case-based logbooks this may all sound confusing. After a few minutes use all will become clear. Why not try it for a couple of weeks, look at your reports and see for yourself? JET5 automatically maintains multiple tested backups of your data (data loss with traditional-style logbooks is still common). And it's efficient and fast with multiple entries often requiring only a few clicks: "Cystoscopy ... 9 ... Add". Brilliant!