An Agenda for Digital Decision Support
The NHS needs to do some simple practical stuff not issue another plan
Electronic decision support is going to be the norm for all NHS clinicians. Or, to be more precise, there is a plan for that to happen.
Full disclosure, I haven’t read the entire article. The headline means pretty much nothing. A lightbulb is electronic decision support - it helps you see better. Consider the long history in the NHS of technology which does anything but “support” hard pressed front line clinicians. Do you think another NHS plan is going to make a difference?
Despite this, I remain optimistic. Instead of yet another plan, what practical steps could we take to deliver better decision support for clinicians?
Digital decision support means better medicaion data
Decision support means better information. That means clinicians need to be provided with the right data. Data that is accurate, up to date, consistent and comparable. Data in which NHS clinicians have complete confidence. Triscribe’s role is to make sure clinicians have confidence in medication data.
To build confidence, data must be context sensitive. What does the clinician need to see for this patient right now? Clinicians decide about real people, people who are individual patients. Clinical decision support tools need to link data to the patient.
This means clear, quick governance for secure use of patient IDs. Linkage of patient identifiable data from different sources needs to be the norm, not the exception. Ask why not?
Proven modern technology is clear and easy to use
Hospital clinicians often make decisions under severe pressure. They need tools that are simple to use and understand. Modern mobile software that is intuitive and built to engage the user. Apps should not need training. If yours does, then it needs to be better.
Consumer apps attract a lot of criticism for the way they “hook” users. Clinical decision support tools need to use the same methods for the right reasons. Making sure clinical users want to get the information your decision support tool is offering.
Great decision support tools learn from experienced clinicians
Digital decision support is NOT about telling clinicians what to do. Its support remember. Professional experienced clinicians are still making the actual decisions.
As a population, NHS clinicians are the smartest, most experienced and most dedicated group in the country. We need to learn from that body of knowledge. Triscribe builds software that absorbs the best and helps everyone make better decisions.
An agenda for change, not another top-down plan
All of this is possible with proven, secure, modern technology. It’s low cost and available in 1000s of apps for consumers and businesses. Triscribe is using this technology to deliver the data clinicians need and want, where they want it and when they need.
There is no reason the NHS can’t follow the same path. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of digital change projects are underway in the NHS at any given moment. Instead of chasing the latest technology fad or innovation fantasy, why not align them to a simple agenda?
All new applications should be cloud based software as a service. Over time, everything will migrate to this model.
Patient IDs are the foundation of all health systems. Everything must link to NHS Number.
Instead of a central database, follow Estonian principles to ensure digital first without endangering privacy or security. Estonia estimates digital first gives each citizen back two weeks of time every year.
Fix the basics. Make life easier for staff and patients. Build or buy software that learns and improves in response to user needs.
Triscribe is driven by working with NHS clinicians, Trusts and organisations. It’s our North Star. Get in touch if you want to find out how to become a Triscribe customer and partner - contact@triscribe.net.