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Introduction: Benefits and Concepts
The modern general practice access model represents a paradigm shift in primary care. Unlike traditional models that often involve long waiting times and limited accessibility, this new approach prioritises timely and efficient patient access to healthcare services – principles which Silicon Practice has embraced since being founded in 2004.
From the start Silicon Practice has been based on creating websites which reduce the need to telephone the practice or visit a GP practice.
Benefits of the Modern General Practice Access Model
- Enhanced Accessibility: Patients can access care more easily through multiple channels, including online platforms, telehealth, and face-to-face consultations.
- Reduced Waiting Times: By streamlining appointment scheduling and triage processes, patients can receive timely care, thereby improving health outcomes.
- Improved Patient Satisfaction: With more convenient access and shorter wait times, patients experience greater satisfaction and engagement with their healthcare providers.
- Optimised Resource Utilisation: Healthcare providers can better manage their time and resources, leading to increased efficiency and reduced burnout.
Inclusive, Straightforward Access
A cornerstone of the modern general practice access model is its commitment to providing inclusive, straightforward access to care. This involves leveraging technology to create a seamless experience for patients and providers.
Key Features of Inclusive Access
- Multiple Access Points: Patients can book appointments, request prescriptions, and seek advice through various channels such as mobile apps, online portals, and telephone services.
- Putting patients first online: Having patient-friendly, efficient websites and apps is highlighted by the NHS as a way to improve online journeys for patients. Practice websites should make it easier for patients to request help, including using online forms to request medical care, ordering repeat prescriptions online and accessing other administrative help.
- User-Friendly Interfaces: Digital platforms should be designed to be intuitive, ensuring that patients of all ages and technical abilities can navigate them with ease. Practices using Silicon Practice’s FootFall dashboard have the option to use over 50 distinct request patient form types, from requesting help online to reviewing a long-term health condition.
- Accessibility for All: Special consideration is given to making these services accessible to individuals with disabilities, language barriers, or limited digital literacy. Silicon Practice’s Foundation sites have been designed from the beginning to be WCAG 2.1 Level AA Compliant. Meeting this ensures that patients, regardless of sight, hearing, or mobility issues, can access digital resources conveniently and inclusively.
By removing barriers to access, the modern general practice access model ensures that all patients can receive the care they need when they need it.
Importance of Structured Information Gathering
Effective healthcare delivery relies heavily on accurate and comprehensive information. The modern general practice access model emphasises structured information gathering to support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.
Benefits of Structured Information Gathering
- Improved Accuracy: Digital tools and standardised forms ensure that patient information is collected consistently and accurately. Silicon Practice’s FootFall dashboard can be used to seamlessly transfer healthcare episodes can be transferred to the patient’s electronic health record, using clinical systems such as EMIS, SystmOne and Vision.
- Enhanced Continuity of Care: Comprehensive data collection enables seamless sharing of patient information across different healthcare providers and settings.
- Informed Decision-Making: With access to complete and accurate patient information, healthcare providers can make better-informed decisions, leading to more effective treatment plans.
Structured information gathering also facilitates the use of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, which can identify trends and predict patient needs, further enhancing the quality of care.
Prioritising and Allocating Need Safely and Equitably
One of the most significant advantages of the modern general practice access model is its ability to prioritise and allocate healthcare resources based on need, ensuring that patients receive care in a safe and equitable manner.
How Prioritisation Works
- Triage Systems: Patient symptoms are evaluated along with medical histories to determine the urgency of care required.
- Risk Stratification: Patients are categorised based on the severity of their conditions, allowing healthcare providers to focus on those with the most critical needs first.
- Resource Allocation: By understanding the demand for different types of care, practices can allocate resources more effectively, ensuring that patients receive timely and appropriate interventions.
Enhancing Patient Care Through Equitable Allocation
Equitable allocation of resources ensures that all patients, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location, have access to high-quality care.
This approach not only improves health outcomes but also fosters trust and engagement within the community. However, there is currently a wide variation in services offered between the UK nations and achieving equity across them may remain an aspiration for generations.
How Our Solutions Can Help
At Silicon Practice, we are at the forefront of developing innovative solutions that support the modern general practice access model.
Our comprehensive suite of digital tools, now including healthcare apps, is designed to enhance every aspect of primary care delivery, from patient access to information management and resource allocation.
NHS Benchmarking: Measurements are Crucial
The NHS has provided benchmarking ratings so that the user-friendliness and efficiency of websites used by GP practices can be measured.
Silicon Practice’s Foundation sites are expected to achieve 96% or better of the ‘Well’ NHS benchmarking rating at launch.
Foundation sites make it easy for patients to request prescriptions and communicate with their healthcare providers. They are designed to align with initiatives like the NHS app, providing seamless access to services, data sharing and integration.
This supports continuity of care and informed clinical decision-making.
Taking pressure off phonelines and front desk
Practices using Silicon Practice’s FootFall dashboard have the option to use over 50 distinct request patient form types, from requesting help online to reviewing a long-term health condition.
The dashboard is the result of collaborative efforts between healthcare professionals and patients and has a proven track record in over 1,000 practices, improving patient access to healthcare services and helping practices manage demand more efficiently.
The more requests submitted via over 50 distinct request forms to the dashboard, the fewer phone calls and visits to practice are needed.
For example, within the first six months of implementing FootFall, Carolside Medical Centre received 15,655 online requests.
When patients were surveyed about what they would have done if the FootFall service didn’t exist, they responded with the following results:
- 90% would have phoned the practice – 14,023 phone calls avoided
- 5% would have visited the practice – 697 visits avoided
- 3% would have made an appointment – 432 appointments avoided
You can find out more here
Silicon Practice provides support in training practice staff to use their practice dashboard through online sessions, webinars, video modules and a highly-responsive helpdesk.
Our sites also signpost self-care information, to further reduce unnecessary appointments.
Request a Demo
Explore how our solutions can transform your practice and enhance patient care. Request a demo and see firsthand how our innovative tools can help you implement the modern general practice access model effectively.
Conclusions
The modern general practice access model represents a significant advancement in primary care, offering numerous benefits for both patients and healthcare providers.
By embracing this new era of healthcare, practices can improve accessibility, enhance patient satisfaction, and optimise resource utilisation.
Silicon Practice is committed to supporting this transformation with cutting-edge solutions that empower practices to deliver high-quality, equitable care.
Embrace the future of primary care with the modern general practice access model and Silicon Practice’s innovative tools.
Together, we can create a more efficient, equitable, and patient-centred healthcare system.
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