Stago’s sthemO 301 fully automated coagulation analyser, supported by the web-based data manager solution sthemE Manager, has transformed haemostasis at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
Royal Sussex County Hospital became the first UK laboratory to implement the new Stago sthemO 301 and sthemE Manager in combination. This has transformed workflows, patient pathways, and future service resilience, says haemostasis lead biomedical scientist Shawn Cotton.
Shawn Cotton is the haemostasis and thrombosis lead for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. His role spans four sites: Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, Princess Royal in Haywards Heath, Worthing General Hospital, and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.
“I have nearly 38 years’ experience as a biomedical scientist, with 33 of them solely in haemostasis,” says Shawn. “So I’ve worked with a lot of suppliers over the years. Through numerous tenders, Stago has consistently ranked highest, demonstrating a haemostasis expertise that translates into solutions which meet both our laboratory and clinical needs.”
The latest addition to Shawn’s laboratory, Stago’s sthemO 301, is a fully automated coagulation analyser for medium to large laboratories, supported by Stago’s web-based data manager solution, sthemE Manager.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Shawn’s team has seen “exponential growth, certainly in specialist testing”, making greater efficiency a necessity.
“A few years ago, we reviewed our workload and recognised an opportunity to further optimise how routine and specialist testing were managed,” says Shawn. “That’s where Stago came in.”
Katrina Ellis, the account manager from Stago, recalls working closely with Shawn’s team in Brighton to analyse the laboratory’s increasing workload and identify an opportunity not only to increase capacity, but to redesign the workflow. “By placing the sthemO 301 in the main blood sciences laboratory, routine coagulation testing could be managed separately from the specialist testing in Shawn’s laboratory. It’s so intuitive that the medical laboratory assistants (MLAs) can be trained to operate it almost immediately,” says Katrina.
A new way of working
Shawn says his aim has always been “to have a haemostasis service which is fit for the future, ready and prepared for all eventualities.” But how does one future proof a haemostasis laboratory? “By revolutionising the way that you structure the processing,” claims Shawn.
“Having something as easy to use as the sthemO 301 means the MLAs down in the blood sciences laboratory are running the routine samples. So my biomedical scientists and senior staff in the specialist laboratory spend less hands-on time on those routine samples and can instead focus on preparing and carrying out the specialist work. Then, with sthemE Manager, they’re able to oversee both the routine and specialist workflows, authorise the results and send them out.
“The workflow is better, resources are used more effectively, and operating costs are lower. More importantly, the sthemO 301 and sthemE Manager provide the automation we need to support the future direction of our service.” This aligns with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan’s ambition to use automation, innovation and technology to improve efficiency.
The first phase of the implementation centred on rigorous verification to ensure compliance with ISO 15189:2022. “At every stage, from initial implementation through to go-live, I had complete confidence in both the quality of patient results and the reliability of the system.”
The power of sthemE Manager
sthemE Manager, Stago’s web-based data manager, enables “effortless data review, even when working as multisite laboratory networks”. Shawn has been particularly impressed by its ability to provide out-of office expertise.
“If there’s anything happening with a patient, even if you’re at home, your team can benefit from your expertise. You can log in, have a look at the data, and give advice. Internal quality control (IQC) trending is something which UKAS is very keen on, and being able to look at all five platforms at the same time and pull the data together is very powerful.
“sthemE Manager offers an impressive range of accreditation tools in a modern software environment. Moving away from Excel has improved data integrity, reduced transcription errors and removed the burden of spreadsheet validation. It saves a considerable amount of time and makes preparing for UKAS inspections far more straightforward.”
Keeping things simple
Stago has developed sthemE Manager and sthemO as part of a unified ecosystem. Their common user interface provides a seamless user experience, simplifying training, reducing complexity and supporting more efficient workflows.
“It’s been remarkably intuitive for our junior staff. Our blood sciences support workers (band 3 MLAs) have got to grips with this new technology in just a couple of hours. It’s made teaching a lot more people how to use it much quicker,” says Shawn.
“Routine maintenance is one less thing to worry about thanks to the sthemO 301’s fully automated self-cleaning system. Having a platform with such simple maintenance makes it much easier for staff to focus on other work. The same is true of the routine reagents, which are quick and easy to prepare with no pipetting required, reducing the risk of manual errors. In addition, Stago’s universal barcoded calibration system eliminates the need for routine calibration, making the workflow simpler, faster and more efficient. It might sound like small things, but it takes a lot of stress off the team.”
Door to diagnosis in 90 minutes
The improvements are also having a tangible impact on patient pathways. Shawn recalls a recent case involving a newborn at Princess Royal Hospital.
“We had a sample taken from a newborn baby in Haywards Heath, about an hour’s transport away at a busy time. But through good training and vigilance, the team was alerted early and had the assay ready before the sample reached the laboratory. So as soon as the sample came through the door, it was on the machine and tested. We had a diagnosis of a new haemophilia within an hour and a half. To be able to do that, you need technology that can adapt to urgent clinical demands, combined with a team that understands it thoroughly. That’s what enables us to deliver when it matters most.”
Shawn continues: “Making sure patients receive the right diagnosis as quickly as possible is the most important part of my job. To achieve that, you need a skilled team and technology that can adapt to changing clinical demands. The combination of the right training and Stago’s solution, with embedded viscosity-based detection and specialist haemostasis expertise, gives our staff the confidence to deliver accurate results when they are needed most. That’s what really matters.
“Compared to other machines in the network, the sthemO 301 is faster. The capacity is impressive, with high walkaway capability, so we get through things more quickly.”
Fit for the future
Implementing the sthemO 301 and sthemE Manager has not only improved day-to-day efficiency across University Hospital Sussex’s haemostasis service but also strengthened its ability to respond rapidly to urgent clinical need. With clearer separation of routine and specialist work, and greater visibility across the network, the service is now better placed to meet current demand and future growth.
For Shawn, the ultimate measure of success is not the technology itself, but the difference it makes to patients. He concludes: “I love the science behind it all, but ultimately everything my team and I do is for the patient. That’s what drives our team every day.”
For more information about the sthemO 301 analyser and sthemE Manager, as well as other Stago products across haemostasis and haematology, visit the website.
https://sthemo.stago.com/