Last Updated on: 20th March 2024, 03:18 pm
DXS, an esteemed independent digital health company, has made groundbreaking achievements with its SMART referral forms within an NHS Infertility Service. These state-of-the-art digital instruments are engineered to refine the referral pathway, facilitating prompt and streamlined access to specialised healthcare provisions. The deployment of these forms has resulted in a remarkable reduction in wait times, now averaging 22 weeks, a significant improvement from the initial 44 weeks.
A comprehensive financial impact analysis conducted by Health Tech Enterprise, partially funded by Health Innovation East, has revealed the substantial efficiency enhancements and financial savings afforded by DXS’s SMART Referral Forms to healthcare establishments.
The complex challenge of balancing operational efficiency with financial stewardship in healthcare management is particularly acute for individuals seeking fertility treatment referrals. DXS is at the forefront of addressing this critical issue by offering cutting-edge solutions that not only improve patient outcomes but also enhance the efficiency of healthcare resource utilisation.
Djavid Alleemudder, a specialist consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology focusing on infertility in Suffolk and North East Essex, highlighted the burdens faced by his team, with couples enduring lengthy waits of up to 44 weeks, often culminating in the rejection of their requests for this time-sensitive service. He underscored the emotional and organisational toll of unsuitable referrals on affected couples.
Djavid remarked: “Drawing from my experience, it was evident that we required a distinct approach. Making specific fields mandatory and introducing a revamped referral form were crucial steps in our strategy.”
In a strategic move, GP practices in Suffolk have implemented a clinical decision-support system that provides bespoke SMART referral forms. Working in partnership with DXS, Djavid and his team devised a custom SMART Infertility Referral Form tailored to meet the specific needs of their department.
This innovative solution ensures that referrals are processed only when all requisite fields are filled in, markedly reducing the number of rejected referrals and significantly boosting overall efficiency. The efforts to streamline the referral process, in collaboration with Djavid and the wider healthcare system, have led to outstanding results.
Following the launch of the new SMART Infertility Form in August 2021, Djavid and his colleagues have witnessed substantial improvements in the Infertility Service, including a decrease in inappropriate referrals, wait times, and administrative workload.
The data indicates a reduction in inappropriate referrals to 0% from an initial 36%, and, most notably, wait times have been halved to 22 weeks from the previous 44 weeks.
Mr. Djavid Alleemudder reflects on the transformative impact of the updated SMART Infertility Referral Form: “It’s not only helped us to gain an in-depth analysis of what was going wrong, but it’s delivered results that change lives, and makes our service to our patients much more efficient, which is life-changing in our sector, and what we do.”
The application of DXS SMART Referral Forms extends across various healthcare domains, not limited to infertility but also encompassing Cardiology, MSK, Cancer, Gastro, among others. The service offers multiple benefits including:
· Optimised Pathway Management
· Reduced Inappropriate Referrals
· Reduced Waiting Lists
· Automated Field Population
· Fully Coded to Patient Record
· Zero Digital Bias – Reducing Inequalities
· Greener NHS – Contributes to Net-Zero
· Streamlines Efficiency/Productivity
· EPR Integration (via metadata)
Building on the remarkable success within a single department, the Smart Referral Forms hold significant potential for nationwide operational and financial improvements. By extending the evaluation across NHS England to encompass the wider effects of DXS’s Smart Referral Forms, the initiative overcomes regional hurdles. Analysis showcases a notable net saving of £9,202,570 in a single year and a cumulative saving of £43,471,649 over five years, underlining the extensive impact of DXS’s full suite of Smart Referral Forms.
For more detailed information about the efficacy of Smart Referral Forms and how to access further details, please visit here.
