NHS digitisation

Question 1

What is the NHS long term plan 2019?

Answer 1

The NHS Long Term Plan, published in 2019, outlines a vision to make digitally enabled care mainstream across the NHS. This plan not only seeks to improve patient outcomes but also enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

Question 2

Define digitally enabled care.

Answer 2

Digitally enabled care refers to the use of digital technologies, such as electronic health records, mobile applications, telehealth services, and wearable devices, to support and enhance the provision of healthcare services.

Question 3

How does digitally enabled care impact HCPs and patients?

Answer 3

These technologies facilitate the collection, storage, analysis, and sharing of health-related information, enabling healthcare professionals to make informed decisions, engage with patients, and deliver personalized care.

Question 4

How does digital healthcare improve access and convenience?

Answer 4

Telehealth consultations, for instance, enable dietitians to connect with patients remotely, reducing geographical barriers and travel-related expenses.

• increases the reach of dietetic services, particularly in underserved or rural areas, while also providing patients with greater flexibility in scheduling appointments.

Question 5

How does digital healthcare enhance monitoring and feedback?

Answer 5

• digitisation allows for dietitians to monitor pts health more effectively
• use mobile apps to track their dietary habits, physical activity, and vital signs –> provides dietitians with real time data to assess adherence, make changes
• enable dietitians to provide timely feedback and guidance, fostering a more proactive approach to nutrition management

Question 6

How does digitised health personalise care goals?

Answer 6

Through the analysis of data collected from wearable devices or food diary apps, dietitians can create bespoke dietary recommendations and exercise programs.

• personalised approach can lead to better patient engagement and adherence, ultimately resulting in improved health outcomes.

Question 7

How does digitised healthcare make data management efficient?

Answer 7

• adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) in dietetic practice streamlines data management processes.
• EHRs facilitate the secure storage and retrieval of patient information, eliminating the need for paper records and reducing the risk of errors
• allows for efficient efficient information sharing among healthcare providers, ensuring coordinated care and preventing duplication of efforts (London Care Record eg)

Question 8

How does digitisation improve evidence based practice?

Answer 8

• equips dietitians with access to a wealth of evidence-based resources and tools.
• Online databases, mobile applications, and clinical decision support systems enable dietitians to stay up-to-date with the latest research and guidelines
• dietitians make more informed clinical decisions –> better patient care

Question 9

What are the pros of digitisation in healthcare? (5)

Answer 9

• accessibility and convenience
• enhance monitoring and feedback
• personalised care
• efficient data sharing
• evidence based practice

Question 10

What are the cons of digitisation in healthcare? (5)

Answer 10

• privacy/data security concerns
• technological barriers
• loss of personal connection
• reliability of data
• integration and training

Question 11

What are the privacy and data security concerns?

Answer 11

• increased risk of data breaches, hacking, or unauthorised access
• Ensuring robust cybersecurity measures and compliance with data protection regulations is paramount to mitigate these risks.

Question 12

What are the technological barriers?

Answer 12

• Not all patients have access to the necessary digital devices or possess the digital literacy skills required to engage with digital health tools effectively
• technological divide creates another barrier to care for patients who are often already underserved, increasing health disparities
• . Dietitians must consider these disparities and find ways to provide equitable care to all patients.

Question 13

How can digitisation lead to loss of personal connection?

Answer 13

• Telehealth consultations, —-> perceived loss of the personal connection between dietitians and their patients
• absence of face-to-face interactions can make it challenging to establish rapport and trust –> crucial elements of effective dietetic practice

Question 14

Discuss reliability of data

Answer 14

• digital health tools provide a wealth of data, the accuracy and reliability of this information can sometimes be questionable
• Patients may input inaccurate data into apps or wearables, leading to skewed results and misguided recommendations
• Dietitians must critically assess the data collected and cross-reference it with other sources to ensure its validity.

Question 15

How does digitisation impact integration and training?

Answer 15

• successful integration of digital health into dietetic practice requires significant investment in infrastructure and training.
• Dietitians must be trained to use digital tools effectively and efficiently, and healthcare organisations must invest in compatible systems that seamlessly integrate with existing workflows
• process of adapting to new technologies can be time-consuming and may initially disrupt established routines