A friend recently revealed a research project they’re currently working on What does a great Primary Care Digital offer look like?’ We talked some regarding GP websites and how we attempt to connect with patients. I shared my usual random rants. I thought I’d share a bit of it with you and solicit your feedback.
An introduction of the program
When I learned about the research, my initial reaction was to inquire whether I could be a part of the research team too. In the beginning, I wanted to make certain that someone working within general practices could provide an operational viewpoint. Additionally, I was trying to stay clear of “a solution” that could add more stress to already stretched staff members of the practice. As a practice manager for the past 8 years, and working with patient Groups for over 15 years, I’ve got an desire to use digital tools to share information and have made a few connections to the world of user experience and digital design. This seemed to be a good chance to collaborate to tackle this. As with many practices, I realized that our site was in need of a fresh look and we had joined our Web hosting supplier in the year 2012, and, although we’ve I’ve played around with it and tweaked it a bit, we haven’t really altered its appearance since. There were software updates however, since we’d been preparing for joining a new company for a long time I was constantly thinking that we should wait and then design a practice-wide website that has an official look and improved capabilities. The first question. As an individual or a caregiver what do you do to get data from your GP surgery? Take a look at the practice’s website and look up the date it last updated. Then check if it does have the information I’m looking for? What else is there that you did not know about? If you have a health-related concern, where can you look for answers? Please let me know so that we can work together to provide this.
Click here for GP surgery website design.
Why aren’t websites up-to-date?
The reasons for the inability to update websites regularly are numerous, but mostly due to the pressure of time. I was also concerned that if we altered design, I would get bombarded by patients who want to know where the items had been moved to which is similar to asking where you can find things around in the supermarket. While we update information often but the process isn’t very user-friendly The site’s design and layout aren’t user-friendly and, from a clinical standpoint it’s just another thing to complete.
Value for money or is it too costly?
The process of funding a new website an additional problem. Larger (or more financially stable) practices could decide to purchase a custom product, but smaller practices could think of it as an added extra expense. A well-designed website should provide the best value for money, particularly in providing patients with details about the appropriate service for their needs , or access to local, reliable guidance on health problems and prevention of disease and self-care. The top priority for the health system currently is the need for patients to utilize services with care. In the NHS is so intricate and confusing that it is difficult for people to know where to go? visit 111, your the local walk-in center general practice, specialist community services, A&E – the list continues. General Practice is considered to be the primary entry point into the NHS and the idea is that it’s their job to guide patients. However, do you really think it is the GPs task to provide a complete description of the options available? The design and content of a good website will allow rapid access to information as well as effective signposting of services without waiting in a long waiting room. However, many practices purchase the most basic off-the-shelf website, based on templates costing less than £500 annually and provide no direction on what to do to the NHS. Perhaps, all those other services should be able to provide details about what time to visit the GP?
From a’visit’ standpoint, we cannot longer see visitor or page views, which means we aren’t able to determine the amount of visitors to the site or if the data is useful. The field of web analytics is a mystery to most practitioners.
Functionality – Front-facing as well as back-office?
There are websites who not only host data but also collect information about patients as well, using online forms. They aim to stream inquiries from patients to certain teams i.e. administration, medication enquiries and clinical support (e.g. asthma questions). These forms are often paired with other recognized ‘Online Consultation forms. These websites are helping practices in the process of completing crucial data capture, and provide a triage option however how can they be secure from risk i.e. data protection, clinical good practice etc. Certain practices are wary of opening new channels to accept other work streams, particularly because not all of them integrate with the practice’s Clinical Health Record system, therefore clinical coding is not available. Perhaps these functions should be seen as not being ‘additional’ rather as alternative methods to handle inquiries; more efficient than a time with a GP for a non-clinical query, isn’t it?
A majority of website providers offer an ‘back office’ or intranet functionality for their practices to organize and store data like rooms schedules, contact lists and staff rotas, important events refrigerator temperatures, policies and procedures and procedures. They are utilized by the entire team and are used to prepare appraisals and proof of compliance to regulators. In the present, these functions are getting replaced by more efficient tools for collaboration and compliance, like GPTeamnet, Fourteen Fish etc
Do you know if practices have the appropriate design and communication abilities?
I’m not ashamed to admit, I’ve got “font and layout’ concerns. the text style isn’t as good for me, and I’m not a fan of this job because there are many other tasks to complete however I haven’t been able to take the effort to properly use it and I’m sure that many Practice managers do similarly. I also lack the ability to design the layout work or integrate images or graphics to substitute for the written word.
While templates offer several alternatives to pick from however, the layout and design capabilities can be a bit unwieldy and awkward. It’s pretty easy to distinguish the difference between a custom, high-quality design in a generic ‘off the shelf template. The majority of businesses wouldn’t be able to determine where to begin when it comes to placing the most commonly used items or pages on the top of the list or creating eye-catching designs that draw attention of users and communicate effectively.
NHS Digital have kindly provided instructions to us to follow I recently shared it with other Practices , and I it is unlikely that anyone has gone through it or made any changes in response – I’m sure I’ve not had the time.
This is a part of NHS Digital, creating standards designed to ensure accessibility and inclusion as well as a good user experience. A lot of websites don’t take into account the growing need for an accessibility in their design or practices. with the expectation that their website meets the legal standards for accessibility and inclusion. This guide is ideal for designers, but is beyond the knowledge and skill of most practitioners and I’m not sure what to do to check our current service provider against these guidelines. It would be beneficial that any provider of web-based services can prove that they are in compliance with this standard to ensure that their practices are verified prior to buying.
NHS Generic information repeated?
The latest GMS GP contract requires practices to maintain an up-to present and well-informed online presence before the year 2020 (page 35). If we decide to go with an approach of ‘Digital first and those who decide to do this, the primary function of a website is being replaced by many other services. There are apps everywhere, here, and everywhere. More practices use social media to distribute information quickly and widely along with traditional posters and newsletters in the clinics. There are numerous online services that are available, or options for patients to access these services using alternative browsers to the web.
However, don’t ignore that NHS.UK (not named NHS Choices any more) has created a distinct site for every practice as well as certain of the National database of performance links on this website i.e. stars and reviews about the quality of services offered. A practice’s web presence has been an basic General Medical Services contract requirement for a while, but I doubt that many practices have updated their NHS.uk website, as well as their own website. The majority of them will link to their personal website. Therefore, every practice will have hyperlinks to GP survey feedback and star ratings Who’s who, what time we’re open, etc. across multiple locations. This is yet another reason for inaccurate information. Connection to NHS.uk is made by the clinic system provider (i.e. which online services are linked) as well as feeds to national contract management tools , such for those in the Primary Care Web tool. It is also the location in which CQC will seek feedback and suggestions.
Primary care networks working as primary care
As more practices join forces and form networks to offer shared services, accessibility and information should be made available on one site and not spread across multiple websites. While some practices prefer to keep their own ‘front door’ in order to ensure that they remain a familiar place with patients, the majority will gladly transfer the ‘back office’ task of updating their websites in conjunction with other NHS products and services.
Social Media, Reviews , and Comments
Things are now getting interesting as people “check in’ and reflect on their experience with tools such as Facebook, Google review and I Want Great Care . These platforms invite patients to “like” or comment on their experience after attendance Practices can decide to own these websites and reply, or not but cannot remove comments, so they remain there for others to read and with no response. Certain practices are not happy with this and are extremely concerned of security breaches and creating other avenues of communication. They might have an unpleasant experience with social media and do not want to take on the task of training staff members to be safe and professional in a field that crosses into leisure and other off-work activities.
If utilized properly social media can be a highly efficient alternative ways of communicating to mobile phone users. A recent post by one of the practices reached more than 1m people to inform them of cervical screening. This is a way to encourage interaction, not one-way push of information and is able to effectively and quickly without much effort.
Many practices are using messaging and social media to interact with patients, groups , and entire parts of the practice population and also provide opportunities for “communities of interest” and large-scale communication on federated levels within General Practice. This must be a an integral part of any new communications system.
Internet access for online service
As more and more services are offered online, developers of applications offer more efficient alternative to GP practice’s website for transactions like scheduling appointments, cancelling appointments, placing orders for medicines, etc. There is a market-based approach to the creation of these services online and practices are struggling to keep pace and train their staff to provide information and guidance on the available options for their patients. Each app appears to provide distinct functions. This means that the your choice of app will be based upon the requirements of the patient.
Based on the service provider, certain websites provide a link to a practice’s clinical system that offers online services, but they can only provide the same online service but do not offer multiple choices. Patients can select among a variety of options to use online services, at present websites haven’t yet enabled the option. This restricts practices and patients when they want to provide and utilize a range different online options. The only method to accomplish this is to post weblinks , not widgets or applications to promote the possibilities to patients. Four of the current providers: Evergreen Life, Patient Access, Dimec and Iplato all have apps that allow access to messages, booking, cancellation and medication ordering medical records viewer, however, not all of them have browsers. However, some of the online consultation platforms only work with browsers. The NHS application is scheduled to launch in the near future however we do not exactly how this will connect to a website for practice or a browser.