NCQA: Health IT Can Be Tapped To Support Patient Engagement

Friday, April 25, 2014

Successful integration of patient engagement tools into health IT systems has "the potential to improve inefficient communication methods and change the dynamic of the relationship between the patient and health care system," according to a new report from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, EHR Intelligence reports. 

However, the report noted that there is not yet a complete framework for boosting patient engagement through health IT systems.

Details of Report

In a survey, the report authors identified six common themes of "opportunities and challenges" related to patient engagement through health IT:

• Patient engagement is an untapped opportunity with major potential, especially among marginalized groups;
• Health IT should adopt a user-based model that originates from the needs and preferences of patients;
• There is a dearth of evidence on the effectiveness of such tools;
• Patient-engagement tools should be integrated into overall health care IT systems;
• Patient and consumer trust needs to be fostered; and
• Leadership and collaboration among stakeholders are necessary to realize the full potential.

The report also detailed four activities that will help the industry identify and develop a cohesive strategy for patient engagement through health IT, including:

• Developing joint principles that will facilitate the design, creation and adoption of health IT tools that boost patient care, improve overall population health and lower health care costs;
• Creating and implementing an evaluation framework that focuses on investment and prioritizes consumer choice;
• Facilitating the creation of a unified health data integration strategy focused on patient engagement; and
• Demonstrating innovative ways to use IT tools for patient engagement.

Comments

In the report, the authors wrote that "[h]ealth IT tools for patient engagement are often disconnected from the health care system and in need of full integration across all opportunities for engagement." However, the report added that successful integration of patient engagement in health IT systems has "the potential to improve inefficient communication methods and change the dynamic of the relationship between the patient and health care system."

NCQA President Margaret O'Kane said the "core idea" of the report is that health IT "should be designed around the needs and preferences of patients." She added that "the question of how to link [health IT] and patient engagement is an area where a unified strategy is most needed" (Murphy,EHR Intelligence, 4/23).

http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2014/4/25/ncqa-health-it-can-be-tapped-to-support-patient-engagement

A&E attendance: by age, waiting time and deprivation

Latest NHS figures show that the number of patients going to accident and emergency departments has hit an all-time high. See how the data breaks down by age, waiting time and deprivation

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Attendances to accident and emergency have hit a record high according to latest figures out today. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Getty Images

Attendances to accident and emergency (A&E) have hit a record high with 21.739m patients in the first 11 months of 2012-13, according to the latest NHS statistics.

The release today from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) shows that the number of patients going to A&E has been increasing over the past eight years, from 17.837m in 2004-05 to 21.739m in the first 11 months of 2012-13. Health correspondent Denis Campbell writes:

Figures released by the NHS's Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) depict a relentless rise in A&E attendances, but with a notably large jump occurring between 2011-12 (21.481m) and 2012-13 (21.739m after 11 months). The figures cast serious doubt on health secretary Jeremy Hunt's recent claims that the rise in A&E attendances was due to Labour's "historic mistake" in 2004 of letting GPs no longer be responsible for providing out-of-hours care.

The ageing population, and the fact that growing numbers of older people are suffering from one or more long-term illnesses, such as diabetes and breathing problems, are key factors in the ongoing surge.

If you've ever wondered when the busiest time is in A&E or what age group accounts for the highest number of patients, then this release is filled with just the details you were looking for. Below are some of the figures we've picked out of the report. You can access the full data by using the downloadable spreadsheet below.

Most patients arrive at 11am

There's been a rise in the number of people number of people aged 60-79 and 80+ attending A&E

96.7% of recent attendances were concluded in 4 hours or less - the NHS target is 95% - according to latest weekly data

The most deprived make up the biggest percentage of A&E attendances

The number of doctors working in emergency departments in England has increased by 71% over the past decade

You can find the full data behind this release in the downloadable spreadsheet.

Download the data

• DATA: download the full spreadsheet

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2013/jun/14/accident-and-emergency-attendence-age-waiting-time-deprivation