Patient empowerment with digital
The NHS is harnessing the power of digital transformation technologies for several reasons – but one of its most important missions is to empower patients and give them more control over their healthcare journeys. From eForms and apps to robotic process automation (RPA), workflow, and APIs, these technologies are reshaping patient experience – making UK healthcare more accessible, efficient, and patient-centric.
eForms: Streamlining patient data collection
Traditional paper forms are time-consuming, prone to errors, and often lead to delays in patient care. eForms revolutionise the data collection process by enabling patients to complete necessary forms online - wherever, whenever.
eForms make it a lot easier for patients to engage with healthcare services, empowering them to engage with services from the comfort of their own homes (or wherever else they may be) at a time that suits them. Not only does this save time, but it also improves data accuracy, reduces administrative burden for healthcare professionals, lightens environmental impacts and removes data loss risks.
Mobile apps: Enhancing patient engagement
Mobile apps are becoming indispensable in the NHS, offering patients direct access to their health information, appointment schedules, medication reminders, and much more. By integrating these apps with NHS systems, patients can seamlessly manage their health on the go.
Apps can provide educational content tailored to individual health conditions, empowering patients with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their care. Features like telehealth consultations enable patients to connect with healthcare professionals without the need to travel, making healthcare more accessible and convenient.
RPA: Speeding up the process
RPA is transforming the administrative landscape of healthcare by automating repetitive tasks, such as appointment scheduling, billing, and data entry. It reduces the workload on healthcare staff - but also minimises the risk of errors, ensuring that patients receive timely and accurate information.
RPA can automatically update patient records with the latest information from various sources, ensuring that healthcare providers have up-to-date data at their fingertips. This streamlined process allows clinicians to focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks, providing a more people-centric service that keeps patients as the core focus of treatment.
Workflow: Optimising care delivery
Efficient workflow is crucial for delivering timely and effective patient care. By automating workflows, the NHS can ensure that every step of the patient journey is coordinated seamlessly, from initial consultation to follow-up care.
Workflows can manage everything from referral tracking to discharge planning, ensuring that patients receive continuous and coordinated services. For instance, an automated workflow can alert healthcare providers when a patient’s test results are ready, prompting immediate review and action. This reduces delays and ensures that patients receive the necessary interventions promptly, putting them in the driver's seat and keeping them engaged.
APIs and web services: Enabling seamless integration
APIs allow different systems to communicate and share data effortlessly – a massive advantage to any NHS Trust, with many disparate systems working in tandem to capture and provide information to professionals and patients. By leveraging APIs, the NHS can integrate various digital tools and platforms, creating a unified healthcare ecosystem.
For patients, this means a more cohesive and personalised experience. For example, an API can connect a patient’s health app with their electronic health records, allowing for real-time updates and comprehensive health monitoring. This integration empowers patients with a holistic view of their health, enabling them to take proactive steps towards better health management.
Empower your patients today
The digital transformation of the NHS is revolutionising patient care, placing patients at the centre of their healthcare journey. Through the use of eForms, apps, RPA, workflow, and APIs, the NHS is empowering patients to take control of their treatment, enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare services.
Interested in any of the technologies above, or would like to learn more about digital transformation in a healthcare setting? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of the team. For more inspiration, take a look at our ever-growing library of real-life public sector use cases.