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Found 69 results
  1. Content Article
    This article explores how remote patient monitoring (RPM) is transforming patient safety by enabling continuous, real-time tracking of health data outside clinical settings. It provides a comprehensive overview of RPM technologies, their clinical benefits, implementation challenges and best practices. It highlights the growing importance of RPM in proactive care models and its role in reducing hospital readmissions, improving medication adherence and supporting vulnerable patient populations. How is remote patient monitoring changing patient safety? A Mass General Brigham study of 10,803 participants found that RPM reduced mean blood pressure from 150/83 to 145/83, which significantly lowers cardiovascular disease risk.[1] RPM technologies provide clinicians with real-time data streams; this allows for quick interventions when patient conditions change. The continuous monitoring bridges dangerous gaps between appointments where medical complications developed undetected. Beyond crisis prevention, RPM enhances medication safety through adherence tracking and creates comprehensive longitudinal health records revealing subtle trends conventional episodic care might miss. The benefits reach vulnerable groups—elderly, rural and mobility-limited patients—who now get regular supervision free of transportation constraints, creating safety nets once inaccessible under conventional care models. Real-time monitoring: a lifeline for early intervention and patient safety RPM provides regular data collection that serves as a buffer against avoidable harm by detecting minute physiological changes that indicate clinical deterioration. RPM significantly bolsters patient safety by enabling early detection of health deteriorations, thereby facilitating timely interventions. A study published in NPJ Digital Medicine analysed 29 studies across 16 countries and found that RPM interventions led to a reduction in hospital readmissions and emergency department visits.[2] Specifically, the study highlighted that RPM demonstrated positive outcomes in patient safety and adherence, and improved patients' mobility and functional statuses. This early warning feature considerably improves patient safety by enabling timely clinical interventions before symptoms worsen. A known patient with serious congestive heart failure can also be given diuretic adjustments remotely, avoiding hospitalisation. RPM also decreases the risks associated with medications by enabling physicians to identify missed doses and adverse reactions. Long-term data further strengthens safety by showing patterns—like low oxygen levels at night in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients—that single tests might miss. Personalised interventions are supported by this fine-grained understanding, especially for high-risk populations such as patients living in rural areas that have improved access to attentive monitoring. By combining speed and accuracy, RPM transforms patient safety to an actionable, data-driven and efficient procedure rather than a fixed objective. Key technologies driving remote patient monitoring: enabling safer, data-driven care Remote patient monitoring depends on a complex ecosystem of linked technology that extends clinical supervision outside of facility boundaries. Wearable devices form the basic foundation of this system—with regulatory-approved sensors capturing vital metrics continuously. RPM is transforming healthcare by shifting from reactive to proactive safety strategies. These digital systems continuously track vital signs, medication compliance and physiological parameters outside traditional clinical settings. This enables early detection of deterioration before serious complications arise. Advanced cardiac monitors identify arrhythmias with 98% accuracy and smart glucose sensors provide real-time glycaemic information via subcutaneous readings. Connected devices for tracking urinary patterns help physicians diagnose various types of incontinence without requiring in-person assessments, improving dignity and convenience for patients with mobility challenges. Smart inhalers with embedded sensors record medication usage patterns and technique, enabling precise interventions for respiratory conditions. Mobile applications are a link between patients and clinical teams—with simple dashboards that show health trends and medication adherence. These platforms usually combine clinical protocols, secure messaging systems and alerts based on preset thresholds. Backend analytics platforms transform raw physiological data into clinically relevant insights through sophisticated algorithms. These systems analyse longitudinal data against established baselines to detect minor abnormalities that precede clinical deterioration. According to studies, these predictive capacities can detect sepsis 6–12 hours earlier than traditional approaches, considerably increasing survival rates.[3] Secure, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant electronic health record (EHR) integration—using end-to-end encryption and strict authentication—creates comprehensive patient profiles, enabling better-informed treatment decisions. Implementing remote patient monitoring: main challenges RPM has numerous benefits in healthcare, but putting it into practice involves challenges that need thoughtful solutions. Digital literacy gaps create accessibility barriers, particularly among elderly populations where only 64% report comfort with technology-based healthcare tools according to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society survey of 3,450 seniors.[4] Privacy concerns are significant as continuous monitoring generates sensitive health data that requires strong security. To maintain patient trust while meeting regulatory standards, healthcare centres must use end-to-end encryption, unambiguous consent mechanisms and transparent data governance frameworks. Another problem is clinical workflow integration; RPM systems that function without the use of EHR platforms result in documentation silos. Customised integration pathways that embed remote monitoring data within regular clinical interfaces are required for successful RPM implementation. When clinicians get an overwhelming number of notifications, the intended safety benefits are undermined. Effective systems use tiered alert processes with tailored thresholds that are based on patient baselines rather than population norms. These graduated notification systems ensure that important notifications receive necessary attention while preventing frequent low-risk alerts. As healthcare organisations face these issues, good implementation frameworks that include technical assistance, privacy safeguards and workflow optimisation are relevant to fulfilling RPM's full potential. Best practices for patient-centered remote monitoring Effective RPM is beyond technological equipment; it requires an effective structure that can only come from consistent planning and review. Healthcare organisations should establish dedicated implementation teams comprising clinicians, IT staff and patient advocates to gather diverse viewpoints and boost adoption of RPM. This cross-functional strategy improves RPM acceptance and sustainability while lowering possible resistance. Healthcare administrators should train providers thoroughly on both technical use of medical devices and data interpretation. A 2023 NEJM Catalyst study of 76 healthcare centres showed that centres with robust training of healthcare professionals had 43% higher RPM use after a year compared to those with minimal training.[5] Healthcare professionals should also be trained to focus equally on patient support through easy enrolment, clear instructions in multiple languages and in-person device training. Dedicated tech support channels should be created for RPM users in order to prevent frustration whenever there is a network glitch. Clear clinical protocols defining intervention thresholds, escalation pathways and response timeframes should be made to transform data into actionable intelligence. Rigorous quality assurance measures—including regular connectivity testing, data validation audits and patient usability assessments—safeguard programme integrity. Periodic review cycles examining alert frequency, response times and intervention outcomes help refine system parameters for maximum clinical utility. The most effective RPM programmes integrate patient feedback mechanisms allowing continuous refinement of interfaces, alert frequencies, and educational materials based on real-world experience. Conclusion RPM is improving healthcare from reactive to preventive care. As technology advances, these systems will become standard practice. Future developments will include smaller sensors, longer battery life and better connectivity—making monitoring easier for patients while improving data quality. Better predictive analytics will help physicians identify health problems earlier with greater accuracy. Beyond helping patients, RPM is changing organisational safety culture by expanding care beyond hospitals. This shift represents a major advancement—creating continuous monitoring systems that protect patients throughout their healthcare journey and redefining patient safety for modern medicine. References 1. Mass General Brigham. Mass General Brigham Remote Healthcare Delivery Program Improves Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Level, 9 November 2022. 2. Ying Tan S, et al. A systematic review of the impacts of remote patient monitoring (RPM) interventions on safety, adherence, quality-of-life and cost-related outcomes. NPJ Digital Medicine 2024; 7: 192. 3. King J, et al. Early Recognition and Initial Management of Sepsis in Adult Patients. Ann Arbor (MI): Michigan Medicine University of Michigan, 2023. 4. American Geriatrics Society 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2024; 72: III-VI. 5. Barrett JB, et al. Reduced Hospital Readmissions Through Personalized Care: Implementation of a Patient, Risk-Focused Hospital-Wide Discharge Care Center. NEJM Catal Innov Care Deliv 2025;6(6). DOI: 10.1056/CAT.24.0420. Further reading on the hub Putting patients at the heart of digital health Digital diagnosis—what the doctor ordered? Electronic patient record systems: Putting patient safety at the heart of implementation How do we harness technology responsibly to safeguard and improve patient care?
  2. Content Article
    Since 2022, general practice has shifted from responding to the challenges of Covid-19 to restoring full services using a hybrid of remote, digital and in-person care. This BJGP study aimed to examine how quality domains are addressed in contemporary UK general practice. The authors found that: quality efforts in UK general practice occur in the context of combined impacts of financial austerity, loss of resilience, increasingly complex patterns of illness and need, a diverse and fragmented workforce, material and digital infrastructure that is unfit for purpose and physically distant and asynchronous ways of working. providing the human elements of traditional general practice, such as relationship-based care, compassion and support, is difficult and sometimes even impossible. systems designed to increase efficiency have introduced new forms of inefficiency and have compromised other quality domains such as accessibility, patient-centredness, and equity. long-term condition management varies in quality. measures to mitigate digital exclusion such as digital navigators are welcome but do not compensate for extremes of structural disadvantage. many staff are stressed and demoralised.
  3. Event
    until
    Airedale’s digital journey: Revolutionising healthcare Starting in 2006, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust digitized patient services, introducing remote health assessments for prisoners. Facing funding challenges for successful pilots, 2010 saw the establishment of the Digital Care Hub with Rachel Binks serving as a key consultant. In 2014, the 24/7 Goldmine service emerged, supporting those in their last year of life with telephonic and video assistance. Goldmine, now a decade strong, is acclaimed for enabling patients to spend their final days at home, supported by grateful families and caregivers. Expanding beyond end-of-life care, MyCare24 was born in 2023 through a joint venture, enhancing service delivery and marketing capabilities nationwide. Airedale NHS Foundation Trust’s digital journey signifies innovation, compassion, and a commitment to reshape healthcare for the future, ensuring tangible, positive impacts on patient care. Register
  4. Content Article
    Triage and clinical consultations increasingly occur remotely. In this study, published in BMJ Quality & Safety, Payne et al. aimed to learn why safety incidents occur in remote encounters and how to prevent them. They found that rare safety incidents (involving death or serious harm) in remote encounters can be traced back to various clinical, communicative, technical and logistical causes. Telephone and video encounters in general practice are occurring in a high-risk (extremely busy and sometimes understaffed) context in which remote workflows may not be optimised. Front-line staff use creativity and judgement to help make care safer. As remote modalities become mainstreamed in primary care, staff should be trained in the upstream causes of safety incidents and how they can be mitigated. The subtle and creative ways in which front-line staff already contribute to safety culture should be recognised and supported.
  5. Content Article
    The adoption of virtual consultations, catalysed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has transformed the delivery of primary care services. Owing to their rapid global proliferation, there is a need to comprehensively evaluate the impact of virtual consultations on all aspects of care quality. This study aims to evaluate the impact of virtual consultations on the quality of primary care. It found that virtual consultations may be as effective as face-to-face care and have a potentially positive impact on the efficiency and timeliness of care; however, there is a considerable lack of evidence on the impacts on patient safety, equity, and patient-centeredness, highlighting areas where future research efforts should be devoted. Capitalising on real-world data, as well as clinical trials, is crucial to ensure that the use of virtual consultations is tailored according to patient needs and is inclusive of the intended end users. Data collection methods that are bespoke to the primary care context and account for patient characteristics are necessary to generate a stronger evidence base to inform future virtual care policies.
  6. Content Article
    Healthcare IT News interviewed Wendy Deibert, senior vice president of clinical solutions at Caregility, a telehealth technology and services company, to talk about virtual nursing's role in helping tackle the nursing shortage.
  7. News Article
    GP appointments over the phone or online risk harming patients, a new study published in the BMJ has found. An analysis of remote NHS doctor consultations between 2020 and 2023 found that “deaths and serious harms” had occurred because of wrong or missed diagnoses and delayed referrals. Distracted receptionists were also found to be responsible for deaths after they failed to call patients back. The report, led by the University of Oxford, suggested doctors should stop giving phone appointments to the elderly, people who are deaf, or technophobes. As many as a third of GP appointments are now virtual after face-to-face appointments slumped to less than half during the pandemic. Restoring access to face-to-face appointments has been a priority of multiple health secretaries, with Steve Barclay last year promising to name and shame GPs who did not see patients in person. Patient groups said the study was likely to be “just the tip of the iceberg” given the “potential for tragic misdiagnoses because of the limitations of online or telephone consultations”. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Telegraph, 29 November 2023
  8. News Article
    To be successful digital health technology must be accessible to all while still maintaining the human aspects of healthcare, a new report has said. ‘Digital Health during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Learning Lessons to Maintain Momentum’ draws on research and case studies of good practice in digital health during the pandemic. The aim of the report is to offer policy recommendations to help ensure the UK capitalises on the potential of digital health to the benefit of patients, the NHS and the UK, after the crisis subsides. The report, launched by the Patient Coalition for AI, Data and Digital Tech in Health, with support from patient organisations and the Royal Colleges of Nursing and Radiologists, highlights that uptake of digital health technologies has been limited, while patient experience of technologies including video conferencing and mobile apps has been mixed. While patients strongly believe in the value of digital health, there are still significant concerns about using it, particularly around data collection and sharing. A number of key organisations gave their support to the report. This included the likes of the British Heart Foundation, Patient Safety Learning and the Royal College of Nursing. Read full story Source: Digital Health, 3 February 2021
  9. News Article
    The increase in the number of remote GP consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic has not appeared to increase A&E attendances, according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The regulatory body discussed concerns about access to GP services during its September meeting, including the suggestion that the increase in remote consultations and a perceived lack of face-to-face appointments were potentially leading to ‘increased attendance at A&E’. However, chief inspector Rosie Benneyworth has confirmed that – having looked into this – the organisation has ‘not seen evidence’ to suggest a link between the two. Despite this, she noted ‘anecdotal concern’ about people attending A&E departments if they ‘feel their needs are not being met elsewhere’. GPs have faced media criticism in the past few months for the perception that they have are failing to provide face-to-face appointments, with some believing that patients attend A&E as a result. Minutes from the September CQC board meeting said: ‘Concerns about access to GP services were… discussed, including the suggestion that digital appointments were not meeting the needs of some patients and how this could potentially lead to increased attendance at A&E. Work to quantify the extent of the problem and to monitor it was underway.’ But Dr Benneyworth told Pulse this week: ‘While there may be some anecdotal concern about people attending Emergency Department (ED) if they feel their needs are not being met elsewhere, we have not seen evidence to suggest a link between digital appointments and ED attendance. The latest figures also show there has not been a sharp rise in online/video appointments (according to NHS Digital they are not currently at pre-COVID-19 levels). Read full story Source: Pulse, 7 December 2020
  10. News Article
    Omnicell UK & Ireland, a leading provider of automated healthcare and medication adherence solutions, hosted a health summit on the eve of World Patient Safety Day, to discuss the impact of medication errors on patients and the NHS. The session focussed on the role technology can play in preventing such issues. The summit, this year held via webinar, comes off the backdrop of the Department of Health and Social Care disclosing that in England 237 million mistakes occur every year at some point in the medication process. These errors cause serious issues for patient safety, but also place a significant cost burden on an already stretched NHS. The 2019 Patient Safety Strategy published by NHS England and NHS Improvement also found the NHS failed to save 11,000 lives a year due to safety concerns with the cost of extra treatment needed following incidents being over £1bn. A number of high-profile panel members answered a series of questions from the audience on solutions and best practice to improve patient safety with the aim of debating and sharing ideas on how to meet challenges and the impact of COVID-19. One of the panelists, Patient Safety Learning's Chief Digital Office Clive Flashman, agreed with the other panel members that the NHS had become more collaborative and familiar with technology since Covid: “We’ve seen a definite increase in telehealth and telemeds. Covid has forced cultural blockers that were there before to be removed out of necessity. There has been a growth in robotic pharmacy automation to free up staff time from high volume administration tasks to do more complex work that adds value for patients.” But with the second-wave of COVID-19 still a very real threat he advised: “We don’t want to wait until the next wave to learn a lesson – we need to learn lessons now. Quality Improvement Leads should be focussed on what went right and what went wrong over that period between March and May. They need to be looking at what we can learn from that now and what we can do differently next time. If we don’t do that, we won’t succeed in the second wave where we might fail.” Ed Platt, Automation Director, Omnicell UK & Ireland, added: “Challenges within the NHS throughout Covid has forced them to embrace technology and drive innovation." "It’s important that when things go back to normal, we don’t go back to the same status quo. We need to invest in the right infrastructure in hospitals so unnecessary demands and stress are not put on pharmacy, supply managers and nurses so they are free to focus on patient care not administration tasks." Read full story Source: NHE, 17 September 2020 You can watch the webinar on demand here
  11. Content Article
    ECRI Institute's Top 10 patient Safety concerns for 2021 report highlights patient safety concerns across the continuum of care because patient safety strategies increasingly focus on collaborating with other provider organisations, community agencies, patients or residents, and family members. Each patient safety concern on this list may affect more than one setting and involve a wide range of personnel. ECRI’s list of patient safety concerns for 2021 Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. Emergency preparedness and response in aging services. Pandemic preparedness across the health system. Supply chain interruptions. Drug shortages. Telehealth workflow challenges. Improvised use of medical devices. Methotrexate therapy. Peripheral vascular harm. Infection risk from aerosol-generating procedures.
  12. Content Article
    “We are asking healthcare professionals to prescribe digital health without any training,” a tech company chief executive tells HSJ. The past year has seen a sharp rise in the use of tech in the NHS, not just in terms of remote hospital and primary care appointments, but also digital tools which help patients manage their conditions at home. But the biggest barrier to implementing digital into the NHS is education, according to Orcha chief executive Liz Ashall-Payne. 
  13. Content Article
    The telehealth revolution in response to COVID-19 has increased essential health care access during an unprecedented public health crisis. However, virtual patient care can also limit the patient-provider relationship, quality of examination, efficiency of health care delivery, and overall quality of care. Authors of this article, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, offer some simple guidelines that could assist healthcare providers and clinic schedulers in determining the appropriateness of a telehealth visit by considering visit types, patient characteristics, and chief complaint or disease states.
  14. Content Article
    NHS Pathways is a clinical tool used for assessing, triaging and directing the public to urgent and emergency care services. NHS Pathways telephone triage system is a clinical decision support system (CDSS) supporting the remote assessment of callers to urgent and emergency services. It is used in the following settings: NHS 111 999 Integrated Urgent Care Clinical Assessment Services NHS 111 Online To assist in the management of patients presenting to urgent care or emergency departments (Reception Point). The system is owned by the Department for Health and Social Care, commissioned by NHSx and delivered by NHS Digital.
  15. Content Article
    This report has been developed by the Patient Coalition for AI, Data and Digital Tech in Health, which aims to unite representatives from patient advocacy groups, including Patient Safety Learning, Royal Colleges, medical charities, industry and other stakeholders committed to ensuring that patient interests. The report highlights that uptake of digital health technologies has been limited, while patient experience of technologies including video conferencing and mobile apps has been mixed. Although patients strongly believe in the value of digital health, there are still significant concerns about using it, particularly around data collection and sharing. Tthe report recommends the government should: Ensure digital policy reflects patient priorities. Involve patients in the policymaking process. Educate people about the value of digital health technology. Make digital health technology accessible to all. Ensure that regulations for the collection, sharing and use of patient data are clear and consistently applied. The report also includes recommendations for the NHS. They include: Examine the public experience of digital health technology during the pandemic. Ensure patients have a choice. Give patients more time and control over their health and care. Reassure patients that their data is safe. Continue to strengthen and publicise digital assurance.
  16. Content Article
    The Royal College of General Practitioners has updated its guidance on online consultations. The resource gives a useful set of questions to consider when using online consultations, such as which provider is used, the standard of patient care, and ensuring equitable access.
  17. Content Article
    The global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has taken a dramatic toll on virtually all aspects of life, from the economy, to employment, relationships, public health, and personal health.  In the United States, more than 200,000 individuals have died of the coronavirus. As of October, hundreds of thousands of Americans are filing unemployment claims each week. For all of us, the pandemic has become a time marked by uncertainty, fear, and grief.  According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40 percent of US adults reported struggling with mental health or substance use issues.  Although much of the general population has admitted to feeling more anxious and depressed during the pandemic, those with substance use and mental health issues face unique challenges. ARK Behavioral Health has a number of resources on: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and substance use. List of mental health and addiction resources. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about telehealth. Caring for a loved one who is struggling.
  18. Content Article
    In this blog, patient Becky Tatum reflects on two articles in Forbes magazine describing how technology is enabling patient's with multiple chronic conditions who may have been discharged from hospital, to now be provided with aftercare in their own home. Becky looks at the pros and cons of receiving hospital treatment at home from a patient's perspective.   Hospital-level care at home, in the form of remote monitoring and daily visits from medical professionals, is being touted as the potential future of healthcare, saving money and freeing up hospital beds. But as well as the financial considerations, it is important to reflect upon how this approach would feel to you as a potential patient in receipt of this novel treatment approach. As a patient, the upsides to being treated in your home instead of in hospital are obvious. It saves time and money to not have to travel to the hospital regularly for treatment. You are in the familiar setting and comfort of your own home, which is likely to leave you happier and more relaxed. It’s comforting and gives you peace of mind knowing that family members are nearby. Moreover, you are not restricted to seeing loved ones at set visiting times, which (as we know too well) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic were (and still are) extremely limited, or in many cases not allowed at all. Also, it would be less noisy at home compared to being in hospital, with none of the unwelcome sounds from other patients, the nursing station, etc. Another upside is that you don’t have to go to an area where you would mix with others who may have communicable infections, which is always a real risk for immunocompromised patients. From the point of view of the care you receive, the attention of the medical staff is focused fully on you with no distractions, rather than having to see many patients in quick succession, so care is likely to be of higher quality and more personalised. But, the downsides to such a treatment approach are aplenty. Firstly, being treated in your home is an invasion of personal privacy and removes the boundaried distinction between home and hospital – some patients might want to keep the two domains very separate. Secondly feelings of uncertainty and unsafety may result from not being in a purpose-built medical environment with staff at your call 24/7, promoting worries such as, ‘will medical concerns be picked up soon enough?’ and ‘will staff turn up when they are supposed to?’, to name but two. There could potentially be a delay in medical intervention in the time it takes for staff to attend the home once an alarm has been raised, especially in rural areas or if weather conditions are bad; this could be dangerous if the patient goes into crisis and rather than call for an ambulance they wait for their community-based carer. There may also be the tendency for more mobile patients to over-do things and be too active in their home environment; simple things like letting the dog out or just making a cup of tea might be too much physical effort compared to the limited self-sustaining activity necessary for people in a hospital bed. There are practical and social considerations, too. If living independently or in a household where family members aren’t always available, the lack of regular physical support to wash, prepare food, etc, may be an issue – so for some people, medical care would need to be augmented with social care. Even the act of letting staff into the home may be problematic if you have reduced mobility and there is no-one else at home. And, with knowing that (essentially) strangers are continually entering your home, you may feel the need to keep your house tidy at all times, too, which adds extra pressure. It would also be very disruptive for other family members that are present to have staff constantly arrive and depart, invading their personal or work space as well as the patient’s. Then there is the impact on the environment from the various medical professionals driving around to patients’ homes multiple times each day, something the eco-conscious cannot overlook. Overall, there are pros and cons in being treated in your own home instead of in hospital. Receiving high-acuity care and monitoring in the home environment is promoted by hospitals and insurers as the potential way forward for hospital treatment. But whether this is the future of hospital care or not, crucially needs to take into account the views of the patient, which will always be unique. Forbes articles Moving More Medical And Long-Term Care To Seniors’ Homes Home Health Care Is A Bright Light During Covid-19 With An Even Brighter Future
  19. Content Article
    This Rapid Evidence Scan from Moore et al. examined the effectiveness of virtual hospital models of care. While no reviews evaluated a complete model, tele-healthcare only and tele-healthcare with remote telemonitoring interventions demonstrated similar or significantly better clinical or health system outcomes including reduced hospitalisations, readmissions, emergency department visits and length of stay, compared to usual care, including those delivered without home visits or face-to-face care. The use of the Internet showed mixed but promising results. The strongest evidence was for cardiac failure, coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke rehabilitation. Nurses played a central role in home visiting, providing telephone support and education. However, the studies were heterogenous and the results should be interpreted with caution.
  20. Content Article
    The Doctor Will Zoom You Now was a rapid, qualitative research study designed to understand the patient experience of remote and virtual consultations. The project was led in partnership with Traverse, National Voices and Healthwatch England and supported by PPL. The study engaged 49 people over 10 days (June 22nd – July 1st 2020) using an online platform, with 20 additional one to one telephone interviews. Participants were also invited to attend an online workshop on the final day of the study. Using insight from the key findings from the research, this website provides useful tools and tips for getting the most out of your appointment.
  21. News Article
    The rapid spread of coronavirus has given the NHS a “kick forward” in the need to accelerate technology and ensure staff are digitally prepared, a GP has said. Neil Paul, a Digital Health columnist and GP in Ashfields, said the need to reduce face-to-face appointments to prevent the potential transmission of Covid-19 has forced the NHS, particularly in primary care, to adopt already available technologies. He said practices “still in the stone ages” and “technophobes” were less prepared for the current situation, but that it would force them to move into the digital age. “It’s absolutely made my surgery go ‘right, how do we do online consults’. I think it actually has given people a real kick forward,” he told Digital Health News. “I think in six months’ time my surgery might be very different in that actually we will be doing a lot of online and telephone consults where previously we may have been a bit reluctant." GP practices across the country have been advised to assess patients online or via telephone and video appointments to mitigate the potential spread of coronavirus. In a letter to GPs last week, NHS England urged Britain’s 7,000 GP surgeries to reduce face-to-face appoints for patients displaying symptoms of Covid-19. The preemptive move means millions of patients will now be triaged online, via telephone or video and contacted via text messaging services. Read full story Source: Digital Health News, 13 March 2020
  22. Content Article
    The Telerehab Toolkit is a patient and practitioner guide to remote appointments for people with movement impairment and disability. Researchers from the Faculty of Health at the University of Plymouth together with collaborators from NHS Trusts in Devon and Cornwall have been working on developing an online toolkit of resources – ‘The Telerehab Toolkit’. The toolkit is designed to support health and social care practitioners in the remote assessment and management of people with movement impairment and physical disability, including people recovering from COVID-19. This project has been funded by the UKRI Medical Research Council. The content of the toolkit is based on interviews and discussions with over 100 practitioners, patients and their family members, a survey of 247 UK practitioners and a review of the latest evidence. It contains sections for practitioners and for patients, with information and guidance on online and telephone appointments as well as links to other useful resources.
  23. Content Article
    The Royal College of General Practitioners have put together guidance for those working in primary care. Consider your balance between remote and face to face care – have you got it right and how might it need to change in the months to come? Think about how you are going to manage respiratory symptoms over the winter and be aware of the issues with COVID-19 in children and what to do if resuscitation is needed.Shielding is paused and is unlikely to return in the same form as at the start of the pandemic.Know about the standard operating procedure (SOP) for primary care Appraisal is restarting in a very light-touch way and there are other changes to administration.Continue to wear PPE when seeing patients face to face, and continue planning for a much bigger flu vaccination season than usual. Death certification requirements are relaxed for as long as the Coronavirus Act is in force.Look after yourself and your staff.Continue to plan ahead; this will be a marathon, not a sprint.Your core clinical skills are still important.
  24. Content Article
    Virtual consultations, involving a telephone or video call between surgeon and patient, have been used in several surgical specialties prior to COVID-19. It has, however, played a particularly significant role during the current pandemic which is likely to continue in the post COVID-19 era and in future pandemic planning. This guide provides practical advice for surgeons and managers for delivering virtual consultations with surgical patients.
  25. Content Article
    The results of Digital Health Intelligence’s first survey of CNIO Network members provides a ’state of the nation’ insight into nursing and allied health professional leadership in healthcare IT. This webinar offers a chance to learn about some of the key findings of the survey and to hear from senior nursing figures on their thoughts about what it means for where we go next. This webinar will be of interest to: anyone currently working in a nursing/allied health professionals (AHP) clinical informatics role those who aspire to develop their career in this area those who are seeking to set up such a role within their organisation those currently working with CNIOs/AHP informatics leads. Attendees will learn: more about how CNIO/AHP informatics roles are currently set up in the NHS – time commitment, reporting structures etc what the profile is of those holding such roles about possible challenges in connections between CNIOs/AHPs in informatics roles and CCIOs and CIOs thoughts on whether the CNIO/AHP informatics role should be formally recognised further views from senior leaders on the future of these roles.
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