Digital transformation in healthcare is being driven by the need to improve quality, reduce costs, and enhance the patient experience of health and social care delivery. This is being achieved through both the direct intervention of technology to create new diagnostic and treatment opportunities, and through the improved use of data to create more efficient and engaging patient care processes.
Digital transformation is now being taken so seriously by the government that a new joint organisation for digital, data, and technology has been set up to oversee the digital transformation of the health and care system. The new unit, called NHSX, will bring together the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and NHS Improvement, allowing patients and staff to benefit from the latest digital systems and technology. The stated aim of NHSX is to bring together health and technology to make things better for patients and staff. The “X” in NHSX stands for experience, cementing its intent to be a standards-led and user-driven organisation.
In this guide, Clinical Workflow Specialist and Clinical Safety Officer Daniel Johnston, MRes, RN, discusses the benefits of digital transformation, Global Digital Exemplars, NHSX, the challenges of change, and recommendations for planning, implementation, and evaluation of digital transformation in healthcare.
With recommendations from Dr James Reed, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist & Chief Clinical Information Officer at Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and digital transformation case study “The power to reimagine”.
