Practices will need to judge, or better still measure, how much consultation time might be saved by the system generating and collecting data. Similarly, they need to describe accurately its use in a screening or health management programme context. System manufacturers list a number of variables it can be used for: weight and body mass index (BMI), oxygen saturation, pulse, blood pressure, clinical questionnaires etc.
Practices should assess compatibility using three criteria: patients, staff and technical. The practice’s existing clinical software system may not allow the ‘pod’ to write data directly into the electronic patient record. Practices should check this with the surgery pod manufacturer.
Practices will know immediately if space can be found for such a system to work. The practice team will sense whether their patients would find this acceptable and usable. If only a limited number of patients use the system or large numbers of patients need extensive help from staff, then potential benefits are reduced. In order to realise these benefits, an assessment also should be made of the staff’s ability to change processes and working practices where necessary.
Contact a manufacturer and get a quote for providing the system and maintenance.
On the basis of the previous three steps the practice should make their investment decision.
Once the purchasing decision is made, work should start immediately (before delivery and installation), to design new practice processes. Staff should work out where and how the system will be used, the training which will be delivered that allows all staff to understand the system, and how to help patients use it. The practice will need to ensure that the system is checked regularly and that testing materials are disposed of. You might wish to consider writing these duties into a role or job description. A key point in this design step is to ensure the system can completely replace current ways of working. Without ‘complete replacement’ a practice may run the risk of running multiple and potentially inefficient processes.
The system is delivered, installed and tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s policy.
Following staff training, the practice must maintain momentum. When staff are busy and under time pressure in a practice, there is a risk of reverting to ‘the old system’. Extra effort will be needed to support staff so this does not happen and the new investment pays off.
Revisit the original thinking in step 1 ‘Agree the need’ and collect data with the system in place and operating steadily. Assess any effects on consultation time, the number of patients that have used the system, the amount of data that has been collected and the degree to which staff may have had to help the patients use the system. Review successes and plan any adjustment or extension to the system.
There are no resources in this section.
