Can tech support more appointments for your practice?

As demand for appointments grows, how have primary care networks created a new service model to use technology expand appointments?

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Digital Health

The Folkstone Hythe and Rural primary care network (PCN) initially planned to establish an eHub model to manage an increase in online consultations from its seven member practices. However, Folkstone Hythe and Rural recognised that the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS) could help them increase service capacity. 

To support the use of the ARRS, it also progressed to a centralised hub model underpinned by EMIS Web PCN Hub technology; this allows healthcare teams to triage appointments from member practices to relevant ARRS practitioners. Not only has this improved access for patients, it has also reduced pressure on GPs.  

“Evolving the way they work and moving to this new service model has allowed this team to share resources and expertise across their locality, increasing clinical capacity to enable better patient care,” said Andy Grove, digital transformation manager at Folkstone, Hythe and Rural PCN. “It feels like we’ve genuinely made a change in how services are delivered, and for the better.” 

Andy explains that the EMIS Web PCN Hub offers a single sign-on which means members of staff delivering the services only need to sign in once to gain access to everything that they need. “With a combination of the federated online consultation delivery, the code of care record management and the prescription service it’s meant that those consulting within the system have got all the tools to complete the consultation and minimise the amount of work they send back to the patients’ registered practices.” In addition, reducing the need for people to switch between multiple practice systems means that clinical safety and quality of care are ensured, and the chances of error are minimised. 

The partnership between Folkestone and Hythe Rural PCN and EMIS, which was bought by UnitedHealth Group in June this year, has also led to the development and pilot of the ‘consultation write back’ functionality. This functionality enables consultations to be automatically written back into the native GP record in seconds which both supports joined-up and shared care records and reduces the admin burden.  

In addition, layering EMIS’ Apex Analytics solution across the operating model has allowed the PCN to analyse their data in real time. Using live visual dashboards, staff across the PCN can better understand demand, capacity and activity and use this data to make decisions that will improve care. 

“The blueprint created by Folkestone Hythe and Rural PCN can be applied across the country to deliver PCN working at scale to help revitalise primary care,” Shaun O’Hanlon, chief medical officer at EMIS, said. “Folkestone Hythe and Rural PCN benefits from a strong culture and leadership that is driving forward to produce pragmatic solutions to the healthcare needs of their populations.”