DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT IN THE NHS
How the NHS can spend more time on patients and less time pushing paper
The NHS has made strides towards digitalisation, but there is much more that could be done, and document management solutions can play a big role, which provides opportunities to resellers, as Grace Nam, strategic solutions manager at Laserfiche, explains.
In recent years, the NHS has made positive progress towards digitising its operations. Processes that were traditionally heavily reliant on paper, such as patient referral forms, can now be delivered to patients via email or text. A study of the NHS’ supply chain revealed that digitising patient referral forms in the NHS Home Delivery Service saved more than 200,000 sheets of A4 paper – which, when stacked, would be the height of a six-storey building. Eliminating paper referral forms not only helped to reduce the NHS’ carbon footprint, but also resulted in valuable cost savings, removing the need for printer cartridges and associated energy costs. Despite these steps, wide scale digital
transformation and the rollout of new technologies has remained a challenge. A recent survey from BMJ across 182 trusts found that seven trusts were only using paper notes, while 71% used paper notes alongside electronic patient records. Introducing fully digital and electronic prescription services has remained difficult as a result. Thankfully, the technologies are available to address these challenges. Document management systems are changing the game for busy healthcare professionals, who can access patient data at the click of a button, when and where they need it. Before capitalising on new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, healthcare leaders need to get the basics right. We’ll look at the ways in which document management systems are set to create more seamless, intuitive and secure experiences for patients and staff alike. Centralising data across a sprawling tech infrastructure Founded in 1948 and employing 1.7 million people, the NHS is one of the largest employers in the world. Unsurprisingly, its systems are highly complex – built up piece by piece over decades. Different departments rely on different platforms, and sharing data is often a challenge. Keeping information flowing smoothly has
Grace Nam strategic solutions manager
laserfiche.com
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