Assistive technology: learning from experience

In the UK, the NHS is under pressure to deliver more and better services without any increase in funding. Assistive technology (including telehealth and telecare) has an important role to play in helping the NHS achieve this. With support from PA Consulting Group and Tunstall¹ a leading provider of telehealth solutions, three organisations - Bexley Business Support Unit, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and IPCC, a practice-based commissioning consortium - have been evaluating the potential of assistive technology to improve care for their patients. 

Their experiences, which they shared with NHS managers and clinicians at a recent learning event hosted at PA's offices, can help other healthcare providers understand how to implement telehealth successfully. A short summary of the key learning points is provided below:

Agreeing the benefits early sets the direction of the project

• Agreeing the benefits you hope to achieve from the project allows all subsequent decisions to be aligned with those benefits

• The ‘Kaiser Permanente’ pyramid of care is useful for identifying which tier of patients is most likely to benefit from the project

• Risk stratification tools that identify those patients most at risk of hospital admission can help identify individual patients likely to benefit from the project

• Agreeing the evaluation criteria and process at the outset ensures clarity about what you are measuring throughout the project.

The technology on its own is not enough

• Ensuring staff understand how assistive technology will affect their work and how it will benefit them and their patients is crucial to success

• Identifying the right people to deliver the service is key to ensuring efficient use of skilled resources

• Clear roles, responsibilities and processes are important and will vary from project to project.

One size does not fit all

• Assistive technology changes the profile of care interventions and healthcare providers must be ready to adapt as a result

• Assistive technology results in staff being used in new ways

• Assistive technology supports the development of individual integrated care plans for patients with long-term conditions.

The patient experience is powerful 

• Assistive technology can help patients feel less anxious about their condition and, in some cases, prevent them from calling 999

• Assistive technology can help some patients feel confident enough to start their preventative medicine if they know their condition is worsening

• Feedback from patients and their families is overwhelmingly positive.

PA and Tunstall are continuing to work alongside these organisations to successfully implement assistive technology solutions that  not only deliver benefits for the commissioners and providers of care, but above all result in better outcomes for patients.

If you would like to learn more about the discussion or find out how PA can help you develop a business case for implementing assistive technology, please contact contact us now.

¹ PA Consulting Group and Tunstall are working in partnership to deliver improved clinical outcomes for long term conditions management.