Digitalising Healthcare
Utilising digital platforms is key in all elements of healthcare in the modern day. It is a core value of North Colchester PCN to increase access to patients through new means to communicate. We have made investments already in new digital ways of improving patient care amongst our five surgeries, and continue to look into novel ways of working.
We also recognise that not all of our patients have access to digital means, that’s why we ensure those who cannot access digital means are not put at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing appointments and services.
Below are some of the ways we have used digital ways to improve our services.
Cloud Based Telephony
All five of our surgeries are up and running with Cloud Based Telephony, that allows the patient to receive a callback if they don’t wish to wait in a queue. Cloud based telephony also allows a deeper dive into the analytics of the telephony systems within all five practices, allowing us to implement services based on the true demand of each surgery.
Total Triage
All of our surgeries have partnered up with AccuRx to offer total triage to our patients. Total triage is a GP surgery system where all patient requests are assessed by a clinician before an appointment is booked to ensure patients get the most appropriate care at the right time. Instead of a first-come, first-served appointment system, patients submit their request online, by phone, or in person, and a clinician reviews it to determine the next best step, which could be an appointment with the right professional, self-care advice, or a referral to another service.
The NHS App
The NHS App allows users to manage their healthcare online by booking appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions, and viewing their GP health record and test results. It also lets you register for organ donation, choose how the NHS uses your data, and access urgent help and medical advice through NHS 111 online.
To download the NHS app, please visit: www.nhs.uk/nhs-app