Key recommendations for implementing digital solutions
From a primary care practice in North London
1. Consider who in your practice is involved
Involving at least three people is helpful - one to have oversight, one to run the technology and one to coordinate patient logistics.
2. Consider the patient cohort you select
There is a window of opportunity for patient engagement, introducing digital at this time can help to shape their diabetes self management.
For engaged patients this technology could reduce the amount of times they visit the practice.
Disengaged patients, at a higher risk of developing complications, may require significant time investment, but the impact of digital for those patients could be huge.
3. Consider the patients with access to compatible tech
Don’t make assumptions based on a patient’s digital literacy, age, ethnicity etc.
4. Consider how you communicate to patients
The practice saw an 86% attendance rate to their Accu-Chek Care clinic, in their cohort of largely disengaged patients.
Make the benefits of the digital solutions clear to the patient to help increase engagement.
By sending a letter detailing key points to patients, and making a pre-appointment telephone call, patients were clear on why they were attending the clinic.
5. Consider a protocol for using the system
By determining how frequently you will review the data and what action you will take you can manage expectations within the clinical team and with the patient.
Consider regular meetings to assess the platform and data - the practice reviewed data monthly, identifying patient trends and making assessments of whether to bring the patient in earlier, shortening the gap from review to review in patients who need an intervention.