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Improving access to general practice

"CCGs are now required to provide extended access to GP services, including at evenings and weekends, for 100% of their population by 1 October 2018. This must include ensuring access is available during peak times of demand including bank holidays and across the Easter, Christmas and New Year periods."

At Opusflow we have helped a number of GP Federations and CCG's with their IT Workstreams to deliver the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund (Wave 1 & 2) and now Extended Access to General Practice services.  

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These have included;

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  • Working with Clinical System Provider (EMIS Web) to enable access to Shared Records

  • Working with provider on service approach - Clinical Services v Remote Consultations

  • Configuring clinical systems for service - Appointment Books, Users, Smartcards

  • Developing Robust Data Sharing Agreements including patient consent requirements

  • Developing Fair Processing Materials

  • Developing EMIS Web Protocols and Reports to capture required NHSE Metrics

  • Accessing Clinical Documents from Shared Records (Docman)

  • Setting up physical Hubs (Face to Face clinics) and Contact Centres (Telephone consultations)

  • Working with 111/Out of Hours/A&E Providers for direct booking/triage

  • Implementing telephony system for multiple sites

  • Enabling agile working with remote access to EMIS Web and telephony on laptop devices

  • Working with Secondary Care on service integration

  • Developing Knowledge Base and support material for GP staff and clinical users

  • Working with vendors providing Patient Portals, Apps, Online Consultation solutions, Video Consultation software, Virtual Desktops.....

  • Collaboration platforms - WIKI's, Document Sharing, Knowledge Sharing....

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Opusflow IT Consultancy

For the last 5 years Opusflow have been working with GP Federations, Practices and local Health Trusts providing IT Consultancy to support new initiatives and pilots such as the Prime Ministers Challenge Fund (now known as the GP Access Fund), Multi-speciality Community Providers schemes and other Vanguard projects.

 

IT services commissioned by the CCGs / CSU do not meet all the IT needs of the fast evolving health and social care environment where IT systems tend to act as barriers to integration rather than providing support. Opusflow are in a position to offer GP Federations and Practices and other community care providers an additional IT resource that is faster and more agile which, coupled with an awareness of the above requirements and challenges, could free up capacity now and also help prepare for the future vision outlined in the NHS Five Year Forward View and General Practice Forward View.  

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Dedicating additional resources to IT support may seem a non-essential cost. However, it is worth considering the evidence that has demonstrated that without IT planning and support against a clear shared vision, new models of care will not be successfully implemented and we will be left with IT systems which do not integrate and improve efficiencies, equipment which is not used and staff who are confused and de-motivated.

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Services

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  • Consultancy

  • IT Project Management

  • Design

  • Implementation

  • Training

  • Support

  • Stakeholder Engagement

  • Collaborative IT services

Further Reading:
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