Transforming annual asthma review care
One in five people in the UK are affected by a respiratory disease. In an effort to deliver better care, increase patient engagement and release appointment capacity, iPLATO collaborated with Modality Primary Care Network (PCN) in Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB). The digital-first approach aimed to streamline asthma reviews, making them more accessible and efficient for patients.
Asthma affects a significant population, with 12% of the UK living with this condition. In fact, every 10 seconds someone has a potentially life-threatening asthma attack and across the last decade, asthma deaths have increased by 26%. Asthma + Lung UK actively campaigns for improved access and standards of care, with their 2021 survey finding that only 30% accessed basic asthma care. Basic care consists of an annual review, checking inhaler technique and an action plan.
“The PCN was delighted with their enhanced performance, engaging more of their asthma patient population and increasing their basic care provided. In fact, they achieved QOF earlier and more efficiently than previous years”. Jamie Martin, Respiratory Project Manager
The solution
iPLATO’s annual asthma review solution automatically invites patients, meaning no additional administration for the practice. It aligns invitations to the capacity in the PCN and automatically updates the patient’s record. Across six months, we targeted 1,066 asthma patients within the PCN, introducing a digital Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire, risk-profiling and alternative appointment capacity arrangements.
Engagement Results:
- 42% of targeted patients completed the digital-ACT
- Only an 8% drop-off during the questionnaire
- 19% uptake within a non responder cohort, who previously were unengaged.
The programme enabled the PCN to improve their QOF performance from the previous year and within a shorter timeframe, reduced an appointment time reduction by 25% for low-risk patients and enabled stratification to see those at higher-risk, first.
Benefits and opportunities
- Increased patient engagement
- Operational efficiencies: reduced the workload on clinicians through automated data capture and invites, allowing them to prioritise most at-risk
- Improved Care: Practices achieved or exceeded the upper QOF threshold
- Matching patient demand with appointments: shorter appointments and outsourced clinics
The project showed that improved long-term condition management care can be delivered by primary care through utilising digital-first tools and enhanced appointment capacity management.
To explore how iPLATO’s digital tools and clinical capacity support service could help you, reach out to sales@iplato.com
References
1. Asthma: What is the prevalence of asthma? (NICE, Updated Oct 2023 https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/asthma/background-information/prevalence/
2. NHS RightCare, RightCare asthma scenario, 2023: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Rightcare-Asthma-Scenario-feb-2023.pdf
3. Asthma + Lung UK, Investing in breath, Technical Report 2023: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/investing-breath-measuring-economic-cost-asthma-copd-uk-identifying-waysreduce-it-through-better