Would healthcare services be continuing a digital revolution trajectory if we hadn’t been hit by a global pandemic? Would e-consultations and video consultations have seen such a surge in use? And why did it take a pandemic to introduce significant changes to the way general practice uses technology?

For a lot of people working in general practice, this digital transformation has been welcomed; it was deemed long overdue and much-needed. Indeed, the question being asked was, “How can we make this shift in the use of tech permanent?”. Well, there were two words that I used deliberately in this paragraph – ‘digital transformation’.

Digital transformation isn’t something new; it was detailed in the NHS Long Term Plan (January 2019), which focuses on the use of technology to help organisations work in more efficient ways, improve diagnosis and treatment, and enhance healthcare services. But just how much do you know about digital transformation?

If you want to learn more, there’s the Digital Transformation for Practice Managers training session, part of the Digital Transformation Bundle, available through Practice Index Training, where delegates will learn the significance of digital transformation within general practice and how it can help to improve access and patient experience.

So, what does digital transformation involve? NHS England sum it up quite nicely: “From websites and apps that make care and advice easy to access wherever you are, to connected computer systems that give staff the test results, history and evidence they need to make the best decisions for patients, we’re working smarter to provide better care than ever before”.

Digital transformation also involves a ‘data platform’, the aim of which is to bring together data that would ordinarily be stored on separate systems, enabling more staff to access the information they need on one safe and secure system. There’s also a ‘federated’ data platform, which links hospital trusts and integrated care systems, and whilst both organisations will have their own platforms, they’ll be able to share key information.

It’s not just organisations that such a transformation will help; patients, their families and carers will see a difference too, as the development of apps, websites and services will help them manage their health and wellbeing when at home or on the go.

Technology is changing how healthcare organisations operate, offering innovative solutions which enhance care, treatment and prevention. The tech revolution is by no means complete; there’s still much to do from a digital innovation perspective, and general practice is very much a key part of the digital transformation evolution.

Join our new Lunchtime Learning session on Thursday 14th December for an Introduction to Digital Transformation.