As part of our continued efforts to reduce our post-covid surgical waiting lists, NCIC has launched a digitally-based surgical patient pathway  for all adult elective surgical patients. This is big step forward in modernising our surgical care and has been recognised nationally by NHS England to improve patient outcomes, improve patient experience and improve patient decision making in their surgical care.

NCIC successfully bid for funding from the Elective Recovery Technology Fund to procure the digital platform “LifeBox”. 

“Lifebox” is an IT package that can underpin the whole of a surgical patient’s pathway from the surgeon’s decision to operate right through to completion of the post-operative recovery period at home.  

Dr Quentin Kingsbury (clinical pre-assessment lead) outlined that he has for some time wanted to employ a surgical pathway framework that promotes the patient being at the centre of the whole pathway. This means they can be actively involved in every step within their surgical pathway and can follow their progression throughout. The patient will now have the opportunity to engage with pre-operative preparation for surgery, planning their care for discharge and having a route to raise their questions and concerns right through the pathway. This includes after discharge when the platform allows them to send photos of their surgical wounds, pain scores and wellbeing data to their surgical team for follow-up and possible intervention if needed.  

This new service brings significant changes to the way the wider surgical team and pre-assessment teams will be working. It also requires major changes to the administration team’s role to support the integration of the whole pathway; but the gains are clear. LifeBox will be a very positive change for patients, allowing them to complete the pre-assessment questionnaire online at a time that suits them and with family help if they need. The two-way file sharing between the Trust and the patient allows for secure exchange of information such as test results, medication and useful advice and ensures high-quality educational resources regarding anaesthesia and surgery, well ahead of their surgical procedure.

The programme is a secure cloud-based platform that can be accessed on a mobile, tablet or computer by both patients and staff. For those patients who are not digitally competent or confident,there is a formal option to engage with the “Digital Assist Pathway” so that a patient can nominate someone to complete the form with them, on their behalf. Or failing that option, they can still come into hospital and fill their health questionnaire with a member of the pre-assessment-staff. The platform is very user-friendly and was designed within the NHS accessibility framework.

Dr Kingsbury, said: “This has been a really exciting project to work on and one that will bring real change and improvements to patient care. 

”I would also like to thank Definition Health who created the LifeBox software and are providing the on-line and on-site required training support.”

Definition Health is a digital health technology company based at the Sussex Innovation Centre in Brighton.

 

 

 

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