Electronic Holistic Needs Assessment Pilot
Background
The National Cancer Survivorship Initiative is seeking to radically transform the patient’s experience of care and support following their cancer treatment. Key to this is a comprehensive assessment of how a patient feels and functions. A Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) is a process of gathering information from the patient and/or carer in order to inform discussion. The HNA supports the whole person and analyses physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, social and environmental needs. This helps to develop an individual care plan.
Until now, assessment and care planning has mainly been completed on paper, which were filed in the patient’s or nursing notes and not accessible to all members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT). The inability to share the outcome of assessments with members of the MDT is a huge disadvantage for that does not support joined up care. What was needed was an electronic solution that could be easily filed, reviewed and shared.
The Project
Over the last three years, we’ve been developing an electronic solution for assessment and care planning. As well as cutting down on paperwork, this supports joined-up care, as it gives an electronic record of people’s concerns which can be shared among multidisciplinary teams. It also makes it easier to assess data, so clinicians can get a clear picture of the issues affecting people with cancer and identify potential service needs. For patients, using a touchscreen tablet to fill in a holistic needs assessment will be quicker and easier, giving them more time to speak to a professional. It’ll also help identify all of their unmet needs so that a personalised care plan can be produced and they can be directed to relevant services and support.
Macmillan has been working with HealthUnlocked, a web based software design company, to build and design the e-HNA software. HealthUnlocked have previously developed web applications to help patients track their progress after surgery.
With the number of people living with cancer set to double to four million by 2030, we need to act now to be ready for the future. However, we know change isn’t going to happen overnight, so we’re testing our electronic approach at 25 sites first. This will then be increased to 50 sites in 2014 and 100 sites in 2015, with the plan being to introduce it nationally in 2016.
Prototype testing 2013:
Click here for the latest update of the current phase of eHNA prototype testing.
Click here for an interactive map showing sites that applied to become test sites (red) or are part of the eHNA prototype testing in 2013 (yellow). Click here for printable versions of the map and key.
Slides from the eHNA Learn and Share event which brought together all participating test sites can be downloaded by clicking on the links below:
Background to Assessment and Care Planning – Jackie Rowe / Noeline Young
Software Development and Design – HealthUnlocked
Evaluation of test sites old and new – Ipsos MORI
Experience as a test site – Diane Dearden
The IT Experience – Andrew Millard
Prototype testing 2012:
A six month live testing phase began in February (2012) and was completed in August 2012. Independent evaluation has been carried out by Ipsos MORI and the interim report is available now. The final report and recommendations is also now available.
The first pilot test sites were:
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
- East Kent Hospital University Foundation Trust (EKUHFT)
- St Helens and Knowsley in conjunction with Liverpool Women’s NHS Trust
- North Bristol NHS Trust
For further information please contact Danielle Snapes, Project Officer, Assessment and Care Planning at dsnapes@macmillan.org.uk.
Last updated on May 2, 2013