The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with patient engagement platform (PEP) provider DrDoctor to enhance operational and clinical teams in managing and expanding hybrid patient pathways.
Launched on 25 September 2024 on the NHS App for Countess of Chester patients, the platform allows patients to access their appointment letters, receive notifications and reminders, and access personalized health information conveniently.
Accessible on mobile phones, PCs, tablets, and the NHS App, DrDoctor’s PEP offers a personalized and effective hospital experience for patients.
Dr. Theresa Barnes, consultant rheumatologist and clinical lead for the PEP system at the trust, expressed excitement about the digital transformation improving patient experience by providing easy access to appointment information and health details in one place.
The platform will enable patients to message care teams, change or cancel appointments, and utilize a digital patient-initiated follow-up service in the phased rollout at the trust.
In the upcoming phases, patients will have the option to book appointments at convenient times, reducing ‘Did Not Attend’ (DNA) rates significantly.
Through a partnership with Nautilus, patients at the Countess of Chester Hospital will have access to two-way scheduling via the Oracle Health electronic patient record (EPR) in later stages of the rollout.
Nick Barlow, executive director transformation at DrDoctor, emphasized the technology’s role in enhancing patient access and engagement while increasing efficiency in the patient journey.
DrDoctor recently ventured into mental health and community support by acquiring Maia, which will be integrated into the PEP system used by over 70 NHS trusts and health boards, including Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.
