Scheme allows care providers to make ‘virtual visits’ to innovation hubs
LONDON: A healthcare body has launched a new project that will enable care providers to make ‘virtual visits’ to other settings that are making the most of digital technology.
The Hubble Project, launched today with funding from NHS Digital’s Pathfinders Programme, allows senior decision makers the chance to visit ‘innovation hubs’, via webinar, to learn how other care providers have introduced, used and evaluated digital technology to improve care.
The aim is to help care providers understand the benefits of technology and how to build a business case for investment.
The sessions cover a range of technology so that they will be of value to all care providers, regardless of where they are on the digital journey.
Speaking about the new project, Vic Rayner, chief executive of NCF said: “Many care providers want to progress along their digital journey – but they feel they don’t have the knowledge or confidence to make what can be big decisions about investment and implementation in technology. Being able to learn from colleagues who have been there and done that can overcome some of those concerns.
“These are warts-and-all sessions, where care providers will share the lessons they have learned. Our virtual visitors will also have access to a wide range of resources after the visits, including a toolkit to support building a business case, getting buy in, and implementation. And the tech suppliers featured during the sessions are also offering participants a time-limited reduction on the cost of their technology.”
The innovation hubs are based in three care settings in England and showcase a range of technologies, which include electronic care planning, eMAR, acoustic monitoring, circadian lighting, sensor technology and telecare.
Through a mixture of pre-recorded content and live Q&A, managers and staff will demonstrate the technology that they use, and share their digital journey, including how they came to adopt it, the challenges and the benefits of implementing and using it, and the use of data to improve the quality of care.
The virtual visit sessions will take place between September 2020 and December 2020. The sessions are aimed at decision makers within residential, home care and housing providers.
The session hosted by Johnnie Johnson Housing will be of particular interest to housing associations, retirement communities and home care providers.
