Covid-19 has created a huge impact on elective care. With resources focused entirely on treating patients affected by the pandemic the NHS is now facing the largest elective care recovery programme in history.

A sustainable elective recovery programme is built upon strong clinical leadership, innovation, operational management, and engagement of patients supported by effective data insights.

This complex undertaking must be done safely and accurately, but trusts face huge challenges to return to normal activity levels. However, with the right steps, this also represents a great opportunity to create sustainable elective care service models and improved patient outcomes.

To highlight the importance of intelligent data analysis to elective care recovery and sustainability, Acumentice have produced a video for the HSJ explaining how this works in practice. Featured in the video are:

‍Martina Dineen – Divisional Director of Operations, Surgery, Cancer & Cardiovascular at Imperial College Healthcare

‍Karina Malhotra – Founder & Managing Director of Acumentice

Below are two key findings from the contributors in providing sustainable elective care recovery:

1. Good understanding and integration of data will inform elective care recovery

Multiple IT systems are rightly used to help manage patient care across the NHS. With it, there needs to be a thorough understanding of each individual data set and what they’re telling us. The data used must be able to tell and capture individual patient circumstances which can then be utilised to support the NHS to effectively prioritise patients, alongside driving safe booking strategies.

What’s also important is that any technological solution that is used in the NHS must be able to integrate with existing systems to ensure a smooth transition for all Trusts.

2. Shared Learning and Collaboration

The best way to ensure the right data is collated and used effectively is for NHS and non-NHS expertise to share and collaborate with each other.

There’s so much big data in the NHS now, it’s vital to know which is the right data set, to ensure there is context for that data while visualising that data in the right way.

Shared learning and creating strong partnerships will help in this recovery. NHS leaders facing this monumental recovery challenge must look around them for those key skills and expertise and also look further to what the industry can bring to the table. That is why it’s important to work with a team in an advisory or intelligent capacity on this recovery journey ultimately aiming to achieve better outcomes for patients and their safety.

Find out more by watching the video to learn more on what Imperial NHS Trust and Acumentice say is required to improve elective care sustainably.

For more information on elective care recovery services and how your Trust can collaborate with an expert team, get in touch with Acumentice today.

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