Warwickshire Hospitals Trial AI Appointment Scheduling Tool
Written by Owen Hughes
Volunteers at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are currently testing an AI-based scheduling tool to reduce waiting lists and combat missed appointments.
The software, called DM Schedules, analyzes anonymized patient data to predict appointment no-shows and sends personalized reminders to patients. Volunteers then reach out to at-risk individuals to reschedule appointments or provide additional support, such as transportation or hospital greeters.
Initial results from the six-month pilot, which began in April 2024, show a 33% increase in attendance rates and a 28.8% decrease in missed appointments across the two hospitals.
Jenni Northcote, from George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, highlights the positive impact of using data-driven insights to address barriers preventing patients from attending appointments and improve overall service delivery.
Helpforce, an organization specializing in healthcare volunteer services, facilitated the recruitment of volunteers for this initiative. Mark Lever, CEO of Helpforce, recognizes the effectiveness of utilizing the AI tool to reduce missed appointments and enhance patient care.
Benyamin Deldar, cofounder of Deep Medical, the company behind the AI tool, emphasizes how advanced technology can overcome various obstacles hindering patient access to healthcare.
Deep Medical’s AI tool is currently being tested in multiple integrated care systems in England and is planned for expansion to additional NHS trusts following successful pilots.
