HPN Expo

Innovating healthcare: The NHS goes digital

In an era characterised by fast-paced technological advancement, the NHS, an institution long identified with exceptional healthcare, is now facing a pressing need to embrace technology fully to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and patient care.

 

Technology is steadily becoming a part of everything we do, and various industries have already embarked on their journeys of digital transformation to drive innovation, streamline operations, and elevate customer experiences. The healthcare sector, including the NHS, is no exception. Digital transformation isn’t merely about adopting technology for the sake of it; it’s about leveraging available tools to advance industries, provide more effective services, and ensure the wellbeing of individuals.

Financial hurdles in the path to progress

However, the road to digital transformation is often full of challenges for any organisation, and this is particularly true in the context of the NHS. Funding emerges as one of the most formidable obstacles. Operating in a cash-constrained economy, the NHS faces an uphill battle in securing the resources required for the implementation of cutting-edge technology. Companies like ours, dedicated to supporting NHS digitisation, are still awaiting government funding alignment with its ambitious digitisation goals for all hospitals in the nation. Given the current economic climate, the realisation of these goals remains uncertain.

 

While the recent levelling-up funding provided a much-needed boost, propelling some Trusts toward the initial stages of digital maturity, additional support is imperative. The timeline for achieving digitisation objectives keeps extending, and this situation is unlikely to change unless there is a fundamental shift in ministerial thinking. Although investing in healthcare technology presents a compelling economic case, judicious allocation of funds is essential. This necessitates a strategic approach that directs investments where they can yield the most significant impact.

The promise of AI

One technology generating considerable excitement in healthcare, and indeed across industries, is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is envisioned as a catalyst for revolutionising patient care, with the potential to analyse extensive healthcare data swiftly and accurately. Its applications span from aiding in diagnostics by drawing on patients’ medical histories to predicting disease outbreaks, promising virtually limitless possibilities.

 

However, it’s vital to recognise that AI’s potential hinges on an essential foundational step that cannot be overlooked — the digitisation of existing paper-based medical records. Without quality data at its core, AI’s wings are clipped, and its full capabilities remain constrained. As we embark on the journey toward AI-driven healthcare, it’s crucial not to disregard the critical initial steps that pave the way for this transformative evolution.

Integrated care systems (ICS): Challenges and solutions

Another critical aspect of healthcare transformation revolves around the implementation of integrated care systems (ICS). These systems hold the promise of seamlessly sharing patient data across different care settings within a region. While the concept garners widespread support, realising it presents its share of challenges. One obstacle lies in harmonising electronic patient record (EPR) systems, given the disparities among EPR vendors across regions and the diverse requirements of various care settings, compounded by budget constraints.

 

Yet, again, amid these discussions, one fundamental aspect often escapes notice — the need to transition data from extensive storage archives to intuitive and interoperable digital content management systems. The true potential of ICS, like that of AI, can only be unlocked when accurate and accessible data forms the system’s foundation.

 

Digitising patient data paves the way for different healthcare organisations to easily share information. This allows doctors to access critical patient data precisely when they require it during treatment. Nonetheless, the current limitations in how these systems interact with each other hinder the full potential of using this invaluable data. Therefore, it is crucial for these tools to seamlessly work together, eliminating the obstacles that keep data isolated in separate systems.

EDMS: The first step towards a digital NHS

This is where EDMS plays a pivotal role as an intelligent content store for patient data. EDMS offers a multitude of benefits from digitising data. It grants clinicians swift access to patient information, facilitating more informed decision-making and elevating overall care quality. Furthermore, it nurtures an ecosystem of interconnected data that fuels innovation and advances healthcare. When data combines with context, it transforms into actionable information, empowering medical professionals to make quicker, more precise diagnoses and tailored treatment plans.

 

Looking ahead, the NHS’s vision involves federating access to patient data across multiple hospitals within a region. Presently, the process of requesting information from other hospitals is cumbersome and impedes effective collaboration. The digitised ecosystem facilitated by EDMS solutions will set the stage for a streamlined exchange of information, benefiting patients and medical practitioners alike.

Prioritising user experience

While the journey toward digital enablement holds promise, the focus must remain on the user experience, particularly for clinicians. As technology providers, we bear a responsibility to ensure the tools we create enhance, rather than hinder, their workflows. This necessitates investment in user-centered design and addressing the practical challenges that clinicians encounter daily. The ultimate objective is to make accessing patient records intuitive and efficient, ensuring clinicians dedicate more time to patient engagement and less to navigating digital systems.

 

The NHS is working hard to bring about a major digital transformation, which is both ambitious and essential. As the healthcare world changes, we need to change the way we deliver high-quality medical care. Even though the NHS faces challenges like limited funding and the complexities of integrating new technology, it should not be discouraged from moving forward.

EDMS solutions play a central role in this transformation. They act as a bridge, moving Trusts away from the use of paper records and toward a future where data-driven insights and easy sharing of information are fundamental. By embracing these changes, we are not only ensuring the NHS is ready for the future but also guaranteeing its continued status as a symbol of excellence in healthcare for generations to come.

Jon Pickering, CEO, Mizaic