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[J] Methodological Frameworks and Dimensions to Be Considered in Digital Health Technology Assessment: Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 10 April 2024, 26:e48694
Digital health technologies (dHTs) hold promise for addressing global healthcare challenges, yet their implementation raises concerns regarding their impact and risks. Health technology assessment (HTA) is crucial for evaluating dHTs, but traditional frameworks may not adequately capture their unique features. This scoping review identified 102 methodological frameworks for dHTA from 26 studies, revealing significant heterogeneity. Thematic analysis yielded 61 analytical themes organized into a hierarchical framework comprising 13 domains, 38 dimensions, and 11 subdimensions. The review highlights the need to adapt or create frameworks for comprehensive dHTA. The proposed framework aims to enhance assessment by considering various aspects of dHTs. This synthesis provides valuable insights for policymakers and researchers to refine dHTA methodologies, ensuring a more nuanced understanding of digital health’s impact and risks on healthcare systems and well-being.
GP surgeries have six months to offer online registration
Public Technology.net, 10 April 2024
GPs across England have until October to ensure they have adopted a national NHS service allowing patients to sign up digitally – with two thirds of surgeries yet to do so. More than 4,000 general practice surgeries across England have less than six months to ensure they are online registration for new patients.
The recently published GP contract for the 2024/25 year outlined that practices are now required to adopt the national ‘Register with a GP surgery’ offered by NHS England. This platform provides a standardised form through which citizens can sign up for a new practice via an online or paper form, or using the NHS app.
The six-month period up to October represents a six-month “mobilisation period” for GPs to get up and running on the software.
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICS £1m award for digital solutions
Digital Health, 10 April 2024
The Digitising Social Care programme at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System has been awarded £1.1m from NHS England’s Adult Social Care Technology Fund, allowing it to provide digital solutions to local residents.
The funding is to be provided over 15 months and will allow Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICS to expand existing technologies, as well as introduce new ones. The ICS made a joint application for the funding with the University of Hertfordshire and Health Innovation East. Just three other health and care systems were awarded a share of £3.7m funding.
Patricia Coker, senior responsible officer for the Digitising Social Care (DiSC) programme, said: “The DiSC programme is a fantastic example of collaborative working between the NHS, local authorities and the care sector. Over the past two years, we have helped improve the experience of care for residents and saved valuable time for care staff to enable them to provide more personalised care. Securing this funding is a huge accolade for the team and means that we can continue supporting vulnerable adults for the next two years.”
Patients’ group survey shows approval of NHS App
UKAuthority, 8 April 2024
The Patient Coalition for AI, Data and Digital Tech in Health, part of the Patients Association charity, released a report assessing the NHS App, mostly favourably. Among 637 surveyed individuals, 78% used the app, finding it valuable and user-friendly, especially those utilizing its full features with appropriate technology. Popular functions included repeat prescription orders (68%), health record reviews (53%), and test result checks (51%). However, 10% rarely used it, and 6% stopped altogether. Some users faced issues accessing test results (39%) and personal health records (36%), with some GP practices withholding records despite NHS England’s directive to provide access. The report suggests improvements are needed, particularly in ensuring universal access to all app features, addressing technical challenges, and enhancing GP cooperation.
North Tees improves nurse admissions process with TrakCare
Digital Health, 8 April 2024
North Health Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with InterSystems, has implemented a digitalised ward admissions process that focuses on empowering nurses to prioritise patient care over paperwork, marking a significant leap forward in healthcare efficiency.
Recognising the need for change, NHT’s clinical and digital teams collaborated to implement a seamless digital workflow that includes three key benefits. It provides nurses with real-time patient records at their fingertips, available digitally from any location in the hospital, eliminating the delays associated with manual retrieval, and enhancing patient safety and care quality.
It also reduces error by minimising manual data entry and enhances accessibility for the care team, allowing for informed decision-making and smoother coordination of care. “From a ward leader’s perspective it was really great; we were invited and included to contribute throughout the project lifecycle,” said Emma Watson, matron at NTH. “The team continuously made changes based on our feedback. It was nice as we are the users and the people on the shop floor using the document.“
With a return to basics, is the spring Budget a game changer for NHS technology?
The King’s Fund, 5 April 2024
The spring Budget 2024 announced £3.4 billion funding for NHS technology and transformation to drive productivity improvements and support the NHS Long-term Workforce Plan. The money is earmarked to be provided over a three-year period, starting from April 2025. In this blog Pritesh Mistry discusses the key question whether this funding, and the associated commitments, will radically transform the NHS’s digital performance and translate into improvements in patient experience and outcomes.
The Digital Healthcare Show 2024
When? 24 – 25 April 2024, 9.00am – 4.30pm
Where? ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL
The Digital Healthcare Show is a two-day event featuring the latest innovations in digital technologies, exceptional digital education, inspiring case-studies and expert insight from the UK and beyond.
Webinar: Unlocking data for research that improves health, wellbeing and care
When? Tuesday 23 April, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Where? Webinar
Speaker Professor Roger Halliday, Chief Executive, Research Data Scotland, will discuss that connecting data from across public services isn’t straightforward, but is happening. He will outline the opportunities this brings and how Research Data Scotland are making it happen in Scotland whilst keeping people’s data safe.
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