{"id":4900,"date":"2023-10-27T15:32:08","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T15:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integratedcarejournal.com\/?p=4900"},"modified":"2023-12-12T10:27:27","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T10:27:27","slug":"how-to-improve-patient-and-taxpayer-outcomes-with-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integratedcarejournal.com\/how-to-improve-patient-and-taxpayer-outcomes-with-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"How to improve patient and taxpayer outcomes with innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Digital transformation solutions in the NHS<\/a> can help health and care professionals communicate better and enable patients to access the care they need quickly and easily, when it suits them. It\u2019s vital that our NHS health services, staff and patients are ready.<\/p>\n

How, where, and when patient care is given is evolving towards smart healthcare services, where technology is embedded across clinical pathways and the digital patient is the new normal.<\/p>\n

From websites and apps that make care and advice easy to access wherever you are, to connected computer systems that give staff the test results, history and evidence they need to make the best decisions for patients, technology can support improvements in patient care.<\/p>\n

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Innovative technology procurement<\/h3>\n

Technology procurement in the NHS touches on everything from network refreshes to artificial intelligence, virtual wards and patient self-referral. Health organisations, at whatever stage of their smart healthcare journey, require a robust technology procurement strategy that builds close collaboration between their procurement and ICT functions.<\/p>\n

They also need to achieve value for money through their procurements, delivering against clear integrated care system requirements and cost improvement programmes \u2013 all while keeping social value and carbon net zero agendas front of mind.<\/p>\n

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A 3-step guide to digital transformation<\/h3>\n

To help the NHS meet these objectives for procurements, CCS has developed a step-by-step guide<\/a>, setting out the three main stages of buying digital transformation solutions in the NHS, with a clear breakdown of programme stages and projects along the way.<\/p>\n

Aimed at clinicians, ICT professionals, procurement professionals, CEOs and board executives, the guide supports NHS England\u2019s \u2018digital first\u2019 guidance and makes a process that can all too easily go wrong more straightforward.<\/p>\n

NHS trusts and ICS digital programmes that need to rationalise suppliers, save money, secure value, and ensure interoperability requirements are met will benefit from using the guide.<\/p>\n

Covering a comprehensive programme of projects, the guide makes it straightforward for the NHS ICT functions to assimilate into their own \u2018live\u2019 digital programmes today. It is organised around the 3 key phrases of digital transformation (Prepare, Transform, Enhance).<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a brief look at these 3 phases:<\/p>\n

1. Prepare<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first step is to develop a technology strategy that aligns with the trust\u2019s organisational development plan and its intended outcomes. From here, you can develop your programme, create your design and delivery structure, prepare outline and full business cases, and allocate budgets.<\/p>\n

Next, it is important to review existing assets with the aim of getting the \u201cmaximum value from what you already have\u201d. Start by looking at where your core infrastructure and networks need refreshing. Then, explore how unified communications can bring together phone, email, and instant messaging to complement each other and encourage collaboration.<\/p>\n

This is also the stage to consider how devices, applications, and databases will be rolled out and managed, and how cyber security requirements can be met.<\/p>\n

2. Transform<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u2018transform\u2019 stage invites users to consider how best to digitise patient records: these can be integrated into software and clinical systems, facilitating the delivery and receipt of patient data digitally at the point of service.<\/p>\n

For example, if you need to scan historic paper records, consider what further processes and resources are required. You\u2019ll need a validation process to check that scanned documents match the original paper versions and create new workflows to ensure they are available securely.<\/p>\n

Smart technologies can also be deployed to enable patient participation and empowerment throughout their clinical pathways. You could integrate systems such as picture archiving and communication (PACS), radiology, pathology, pharmacy, and bedside monitoring, focusing on interconnection and sharing of data, using unified messaging standards such as Health Level Seven. This is also a good time to:<\/p>\n