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Showing results for tags 'Digital health'.
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News Article
NHS Digital and NHSX to merge with NHS England
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
It has been revealed that both NHS Digital and NHSX are to be incorporated into NHS England and Improvement. In a letter to staff, NHS England and Improvement’s chief executive, Amanda Pritchard said: “As a single organisation, we can further accelerate the digital transformation of the NHS and redouble our efforts to address health inequalities...” Pritchard praised NHSX and NHS Digital for their critical role throughout the pandemic delivering the NHS Covid Pass, Covid vaccine systems, virtual wards and many other innovations. Going forward she said: “Our Transformation Directorate will continue to lead the digital transformation agenda for the NHS and social care at national and ICS level, alongside colleagues from Improvement and Innovation, Research and Life Sciences.” In other major changes, Pritchard also announced that Health Education England is to merge with NHS England and Improvement. Secretary of state for health and social care, Sajid Javid, said: “To ensure our record NHS investment makes a lasting impact, I am bringing workforce planning and digital transformation into the heart of the NHS." “These reforms will support our recovery from Covid-19 and help us tackle waiting lists to give patients excellent care in years to come. Read full story Source: Digital Health, 22 November 2021 -
News Article
AI skin cancer diagnoses risk being less accurate for dark skin – study
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems being developed to diagnose skin cancer run the risk of being less accurate for people with dark skin, research suggests. The potential of AI has led to developments in healthcare, with some studies suggesting image recognition technology based on machine learning algorithms can classify skin cancers as successfully as human experts. NHS trusts have begun exploring AI to help dermatologists triage patients with skin lesions. But researchers say more needs to be done to ensure the technology benefits all patients, after finding that few freely available image databases that could be used to develop or “train” AI systems for skin cancer diagnosis contain information on ethnicity or skin type. Those that do have very few images of people with dark skin. Dr David Wen, first author of the study from the University of Oxford, said: “You could have a situation where the regulatory authorities say that because this algorithm has only been trained on images in fair-skinned people, you’re only allowed to use it for fair-skinned individuals, and therefore that could lead to certain populations being excluded from algorithms that are approved for clinical use." “Alternatively, if the regulators are a bit more relaxed and say: ‘OK, you can use it [on all patients]’, the algorithms may not perform as accurately on populations who don’t have that many images involved in training.” That could bring other problems including risking avoidable surgery, missing treatable cancers and causing unnecessary anxiety, the team said. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 9 November 2021 -
Content Article
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in medicine to help with the diagnosis of diseases such as skin cancer. To be able to assist with this, AI needs to be ‘trained’ by looking at data and images from a large number of patients where the diagnosis has already been established, so an AI programme depends heavily upon the information it is trained on. This review, published in The Lancet Digital Health, looked at all freely accessible sets of data on skin lesions around the world. -
News ArticleFrom next month, patients will be able to access all new entries in their online health records, if their GP practice use TPP or EMIS IT systems. According to NHS Digital, patients who use online accounts – such as the NHS App – and whose surgery uses TPP, will be able to view entries from December 2021 onwards. While, patients on an EMIS system should expect to see theirs from ‘early 2022’. Practices which use the Vision system are still currently in discussions over access. NHS Digital says that patients will not be able to see specific personal information, such as positive test results, until they have been ‘checked and filed’, so that GPs have the opportunity to contact them first. The body adds that the move, ‘supports NHS Long Term Plan commitments to provide patients with digital access to their health records’, and also shares its aim for patients to be able to request their historic coded records from 2022, through the NHS App. As ’80 per cent of the 18 million NHS App users’ are said to want ‘easy access to their health records and personal information’, it’s hoped that the initiative will reduce queries around negative test results and referrals, and encourage patient awareness and empowerment in regards to their health. However, NHS Digital does advise General Practice staff to ‘be aware that patients will be able to see their future records’, and to ensure ‘sensitive information is redacted as it is entered’ into systems, with a support package and training sessions available to guide clinicians and staff in these areas. Read full story Source: Health Tech Newspaper, 5 November 2021
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Content ArticleThis article in BMC Health Services Research looks at a range of macro, meso and micro factors influencing eHealth innovation in the English NHS. eHealth is a broad term which encompasses e-health, m-health, telemedicine and telecare, public health surveillance, personalised medicine/patient engagement, health and medical platforms, self-tracking, medical imaging, healthcare information systems, mobile connectivity, social networking, sensors and wearables, gamification, electronic health records, big data, health information technology, health analytics, digitised health systems, robotics and active assistive living. The study found that the fragmentation of the NHS is the most significant factor limiting the adoption of eHealth innovations, arguing that national policy has intensified the digital divide. It states that the NHS Long Term Plan places great emphasis on the role of digital transformation in aiding communication and enabling people to access care quickly and easily, highlighting significant implications for effectiveness, efficiency and equity.
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News Article
GPs to follow new digital standard for sending medicines and allergy information
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A new information standard has been developed for sharing digital information on medication and allergies across different parts of health and social care services. The standard, which aims to reduce medicines errors comes into effect this month. NHS and social care organisations will have to show compliance by March 2023. GP practices, hospitals, mental health trusts, pharmacists, community teams and residential care homes will all have to meet the standard when transferring medication and prescription information between teams. The standard will be particularly helpful in reducing medication errors when patients transfer between care locations NHS Digital said. Having specific requirements in place for how medicine and allergy information is transferred will also provide clinicians with a more detailed and consistent source of medicines related information across all care settings and allow them to obtain medicines information more quickly and efficiently, they added in a document outlining the changes. The standard defines how the send and receive messages involving medicines information are constructed, and how the data within is structured so that it is machine-readable when sent between different IT systems. Dr Simon Eccles, deputy CEO of NHSX and national chief clinical information officer said: ‘This new standard will make medicine prescribing safer for patients and easier for clinicians, reducing errors in prescription and improving the monitoring of medications that can cause harm. ‘This is the result of a true collaborative effort between NHSX, NHS Digital, industry and the frontline that will make a real difference to the care and support local clinicians can provide to their patients." Read full story Source: Pulse, 28 October 2021 -
News Article
GPs think older patients cannot handle health apps on phones
Clive Flashman posted a news article in News
Over-55s are not being recommended useful health technology as GPs presume they cannot use a smartphone, say researchers Older patients are being excluded from beneficial health technology because “ageist” doctors presume they cannot work a smartphone, research has suggested. Experts have accused doctors of “stereotyping” older people as being incapable of using technology and warned patient safety was being put at risk by a failure to support them in using appropriate online health tools. GPs typically recommend NHS-approved health apps to about one in 10 patients aged under 35 to help them manage their conditions between appointments, such as by reminding them to take medications or monitoring their symptoms. However, doctors recommend the same apps to just one in 25 patients over 55 and one in 50 patients over 65, according to research by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA), which assesses apps for the health service. The same research found 55 per cent of over-55s would be happy to try using a health app if it was recommended, while nine in 10 over-55s and eight in 10 over-65s who have used a health app felt satisfied or very satisfied with the experience. The NHS Long Term Plan states that patients should have access to “digital tools” to manage their health and studies have shown NHS-approved health apps can have clinical benefits. Older people ‘will benefit from digital products’ However, Helen Hughes, the chief executive of the charity Patient Safety Learning, suggested ageist assumptions about older people’s technological ability meant they were missing out. “The data suggests that older people maybe being stereotyped, with assumptions they won’t be computer literate,” she said. “Plenty of older people are tech savvy – or at least willing to learn – and will really benefit from being able to manage their health from home, using digital products. Older patients need to be offered technology solutions with support on how best to use them, if this is needed.” She warned there was also “a significant patient safety issue” with the failure to advise patients about NHS-approved apps, as it left older patients at risk of inadvertently downloading one of the thousands of unreliable health apps available. To read the full article (paywalled), click here Original Source: The Telegraph -
Content ArticleThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a source of stress and have important mental health implications for all persons but may have unique implications for men. In addition to the risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19, the rising COVID-19 death toll, ongoing economic uncertainty, loneliness from social distancing, and other changes to our lifestyles make up the perfect recipe for a decline in mental health. In June 2020, men reported slightly lower rates of anxiety than women, but had higher rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. As of September 2020, men sought mental health care at a higher rate than women for family and relationships, with year-over-year visits up 5.5 times and total virtual mental health care visits monthly growth in 2020 was up 79% since January. Because men are not a homogeneous group, it is important to implement strategies for groups of men that may have particularly unique needs. In this paper, Ellison et al. discuss considerations for intervening in men’s mental health during and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including current technology-based cyberpsychology options.
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News Article
Plans to hand over NHS data to police sparks warning from government adviser
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Plans to force the NHS to share confidential data with police across England are “very problematic” and could see patients giving false information to GPs, the government’s data watchdog has warned. In her first interview, Dr Nicola Byrne, the national data guardian for England told The Independent she has serious concerns over Home Office plans to impose a responsibility on the NHS to share patient data with police which she said “sets aside” the duty of confidentiality for clinicians. She also warned that emergency powers brought in to allow the sharing of data to help tackle the spread of Covid-19 could not run on indefinitely after they were extended to March 2022. She also told The Independent she had raised concerns with the government over clauses in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which is going through the House of Lords later this month. The legislation could impose NHS bodies to disclose private patient data to police to prevent serious violence and crucially sets aside a duty of confidentiality on clinicians collecting information when providing care. Dr Byrne said doing so could “erode trust and confidence, and deter people from sharing information and even from presenting for clinical care”. She added that it was not clear what exact information would be covered by the bill: “The case isn’t made why as to why that is necessary. These things need to be debated openly and in public.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 10 October 2021 -
Content ArticleZiebland et al. consider what might be learned from the unintended, apparently unanticipated, consequences of the use of digital health (including alternatives to face to face consultations, electronic medical records, use of apps and online monitoring) in primary care.
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EventPart of the NHS Long Term Plan Webinar Series, this webinar discusses how digital technology is helping to battle the growing waiting list backlog. Register
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Content ArticleThis new book by Professor Harold Thimbleby of Swansea University tells stories of widespread problems with digital healthcare and explores how they can be overcome. "The stories and their resolutions will empower patients, clinical staff and digital developers to help transform digital healthcare to make it safer and more effective."
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News Article
NHSX to fund and support innovations for 500k people at home
Clive Flashman posted a news article in News
NHSX have revealed that they will fund and support 14 new projects across the country to help half a million people receive care at home using digital technology. This will include remote cardiac rehabilitation services and digital self-management systems, as well as parental support services for families of children with eating disorders. Tara Donnelly, Chief Digital Officer at NHSX, said: “Through our Digital Health Partnership Award, these organisations will have access to the expertise and support they need to adopt or expand their digital capabilities safely and effectively, allowing many more patients with long term conditions to receive their care from the comfort of their homes rather than always having to attend primary and acute settings.” In addition to innovation in digital technology, a number of the projects build on existing services to ensure more patients can benefit from remote services. One of the projects also includes the expansion of secure video services at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, which will make it possible for patients and carers, as well as their doctors, to share seizure videos across their neurology service. Cambridgeshire Community Services are also expanding their remote health monitoring service. Read the full article here Source: National Health Executive -
News Article
NHS needs to ‘radically simplify’ data sharing rules, says tech chief
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A national tech chief has called for a ‘radical simplification’ of the way in which NHS patients can opt out of having their data shared. NHSX chief executive Matthew Gould today said the current system was “overly complicated” with “too many different opt out mechanisms” and it needs to be made “super simple” for the public. His comments come as NHSX, NHS Digital and the Department of Health and Social Care are working on the much-delayed and controversial GP data-sharing programme. The scheme was paused indefinitely this summer after backlash from GPs and campaigners. Speaking at the Healthcare Excellence Through Technology conference, Mr Gould said the NHS had a “rich history of misfiring” on getting the public’s trust for data-sharing projects, which included the recent furore around the paused General Practice Data for Planning and Research. He said: “Where we are at the moment is an overcomplicated overlap of too many different opt out mechanisms and we’re trying to work out how to radically simplify this." Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 28 September 2021 -
News Article
Digital Clinical Safety Strategy a ‘vote of confidence’ in technology
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
One week ago NHSX published the first of its kind Digital Clinical Safety Strategy – but what do industry leaders think of the framework? The strategy aims to help the NHS provide a safer service when using digital technology, including through training and better use of data. Speaking to Digital Health News, Natasha Phillips, CNIO and director of patient safety at NHSX, said there was a clear demand for training in digital clinical safety in the NHS and that frontline staff were “excited” about learning more on using technology to improve safety. The strategy aims to set out a “clear vision” and recommendations on how to use digital to improve safety, as well as expanding staff access to digital safety. Sarah Hanbridge, chair of the Digital Health chief nursing information officer (CNIO) Network, welcomed the strategy but warned not to “underestimate” organisational changes it will require. “Patient safety is all our responsibilities, as nurses and AHP’s [allied health professionals] delivering safe care is at the heart of what we do every day, proactively taking steps to prevent avoidable harm,” she told Digital Health News. “The Digital Clinical Safety Strategy has been welcomed by our [Digital Health] CNIO Network, as we know the benefits of how digital technologies can enhance patient safety in delivering care." Reaction from suppliers has followed a similar pattern, with a recognition that safety needs to be embedded in the heart of digital. Dr Constantin Jabarin, chief clinical information officer (CCIO) at Allscripts, said the strategy was a “vote of confidence” for digital health tools. “As a clinician who also works for a technology company, I see the Digital Clinical Safety Strategy as a vote of confidence for digital solutions, rather than an obstacle, for improving patient safety issues,” he told Digital Health News. “As a clinical user I can’t stress how important it is to design systems with the user and the patient in mind to ensure they contribute towards safer clinical practice.” Read full story Source: Digital Health News, 24 September 2021 -
Content Article
Improving Patient Outcomes (ImPrOve) Initiative
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Surgery
A European Think Tank working to address and propose solutions for an important public health issue – serious complication rates in the 30 days after high-risk surgery remain high. The ImPrOve Initiative aim to improve awareness, monitoring, and management of haemodynamic instability, particularly intraoperative hypotension which refers to the lowering of blood pressure during surgery. -
EventuntilDigital solutions have already transformed how health services are offered, accessed and used, and will continue to do so in the years to come. With the adoption of new technologies, new ways of working are emerging that seek to combine the best of digital approaches with the benefits of face-to-face contact. In this online event, the panel of experts will explore how wearables have created better health outcomes for people living with long-term conditions, such as diabetes. They will look to the future and discuss how we can make sure that digital approaches are prioritised in the long term to continue empowering patients and supporting clinicians to create patient-centred care, leading to improved health outcomes. They will also explore the lessons from diabetes and wearables that offer wider learning across the NHS on harnessing the benefits of technology for a digital future. Register
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Content ArticleThis whitepaper takes a deeper look at the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on mental health services, outlining some immediate actions taken as a result of increased needs to meet mental health demands. These are further broken down according to distinct stakeholders across the spectrum of mental healthcare. Importantly, the research that backs SilverCloud’s digital mental health solution is presented, as providing an evidence-backed solution is key to offering and implementing treatments. Further, this whitepaper explains some of the key considerations that are essential for integrating internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) within a wider delivery of mental health support in the future. A series of recommendations is made for reshaping the delivery of digital mental health therapy to create technology-enabled mental health services and processes, addressing current inequalities, and with built-in flexibility to withstand those challenges.
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Content ArticleThis study, published in JAMA Network Open, looks at the effectiveness of using an evidence-based mobile app to reduce the occurrence of medication errors, compared with conventional preparation methods during simulated paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest scenarios. Its results indicated a decreased rate of medication errors through use of a mobile app, suggesting this could have the potential to improve medication safety and change practices in paediatric emergency medicine.
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Content ArticleThe Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors (CIEHF) have published a new white paper intended to promote systems thinking among those who develop, regulate, procure, and use AI applications in healthcare, and to raise awareness of the role of people using or affected by AI.
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Content ArticleAs NHS X publishes the first ever Digital Clinical Safety Strategy, Dr Sarah El-Sheikha, Clinical Advisor at NHS X and Anaesthetic Registrar, and Holly Carr, Florence Nightingale Digital Leadership Fellow, discuss why we all need to understand digital safety, and the risks and benefits to patient care.
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Content Article
NHS X: Digital Clinical Safety Strategy (17 September 2021)
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in NHS X
The Digital Clinical Safety Strategy is a joint publication between NHSX, NHS Digital and NHS England and NHS Improvement. It is an addendum to the NHS Patient Safety Strategy, outlining the case for improved digital clinical safety across health and social care. The aim of the strategy is twofold: To improve the safety of digital technologies in health and care, now and in the future. To identify, and promote the use of, digital technologies as solutions to patient safety challenges. In other words, digital clinical safety is about making sure the technologies used in health and care are safe, and then using those technologies to improve patient safety. -
Content ArticleThe Good Things Foundation has published a new paper on digital exclusion and its impact on people’s health, social life and economic potential. To support the Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry, the Good Things Foundation, the Health Foundation and the King’s Fund came together earlier this year, to focus on tackling digital exclusion and health inequalities. The resulting report from the workshop and meeting provides an overview of digital exclusion and who is affected by it, as well as the impact of the pandemic on this, and some of the policy responses so far.
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Event
Leading Healthcare Innovation Summit
Sam posted an event in Community Calendar
In the dawn of a new era for digital and health tech transformation, the Leading Healthcare Innovation Summit looks to bring together emerging communities in healthcare to solve the most pressing issues facing the UK healthcare sector. It will be addressing the sector’s biggest challenges and concerns including the mental health of clinicians and patients; clinical pathways; diversity and inclusion in data and products; service and user inclusive design; remote patient monitoring; virtual consultations and ICS development. You will leave with action points to push forward your digital health projects, aided with the tools and knowledge to make digital innovation a reality in your organisation. Register -
Content ArticleThe use of digital health services has risen over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital divide and the resulting impact on people’s experiences of the pandemic have disproportionately affected certain groups of society. Age UK analysis suggested that only 24% of those aged 75+ were using the internet more during the pandemic, and 9% were using it less. And although the population has become better connected since the start of the pandemic, still 6% of homes (around 1.5 million households) in the UK lack home internet access. People in the poorest households are four times more likely to not use the internet at home than those in the wealthiest households. Disability, impairment, and health conditions also correlate with lower levels of digital access and use. In this article, Emma Stone, Director of design, research and communications at the Good Things Foundation, discusses the implications of digital health services on inequalities.
