References
Technology-enabled care in practice: from apps to Skype
Abstract
As the demand for consultations increases, technology-enabled care may provide a viable solution. Kellie Johnson, Chris Chambers and Dena Corden-LePetit explore what technology is already available, including apps and Skype
With demand for consultations becoming ever greater in primary care, the ability to diversify and find smarter ways of working is crucial. Stepping outside of comfort zones and embracing new technology may be the first step in widening the consulting remit. Using apps can be a great way of introducing technology into the workplace and a means of building digital confidence in patients and health professionals. With the correct support and guidance, more clinicians are using opportunities to progress to more interactive applications in their practice, such as Skype.
NHS drivers, such as the NHS Long Term Plan (NHS, 2019a), are steering a major reform to shape the way that healthcare is delivered across the service. Although change is inevitable and constant in the NHS, the plan is to address long-term change with a focus on efficiency and sustainability. Digital technology features heavily, as more is needed to progress tailored care approaches that deliver person-centred care. To achieve this, the Topol review identified the growing need to develop a digitally skilled workforce, as the benefits that technology can bring to patient care both now and in the future continue to progress at pace (Health Education England, 2019).
Engaging with new opportunities to develop these skills is fundamental to meeting contemporary healthcare needs, and for the workforce, choosing to engage is no longer an option. The Queen's Nursing Institute (2016: 6) offers a very poignant message, advising that not developing these skills ‘would be as unfair as denying a patient modern medicines’. However, for nurses, being able to foster new ways to deliver high-quality patient care will, in itself, be a very powerful motivator.
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