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Survival – ‘managing demand’. A Stowhealth solution. Aim. Explain where we were Options and decisions Our methodology Our conclusion. Where were we. Fraught Working 0800 – 1930 and not finishing Unhappy and unsustainable. Options and Decision. Do nothing - people would have walked!
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Survival – ‘managing demand’ • A Stowhealth solution
Aim • Explain where we were • Options and decisions • Our methodology • Our conclusion
Where were we • Fraught • Working 0800 – 1930 and not finishing • Unhappy and unsustainable
Options and Decision • Do nothing - people would have walked! • Pour in more resource – not an attractive or sensible option • Try and manage demand better?......
Our Methodology • Look at the options • Get an external review • - choke on the next step price • Do it ourselves
What were we doing? • "Hybrid system": • - Pre-booked routine surgeries • - On The Day Team: staffed by 2 Drs/session, NP am + limited Minor Illness support • Separate LTMC clinic: LTC reviews/QOF delivery
External review • "Patient Access" • www.patient-access.org.uk • Facilitated in-house survey of: • Reception: How often were you able to give people what they wanted? • Clinicians: • New/follow up • Acute/Acute-on-Chronic/Chronic • Continuity important? • Continuity achieved?
Duration of face to face consults around 12 minutes, and telephone stable at 4 minutes is on the fast end.
Continuity: judged important mostly for chronic conditions, also many acute, 42% overall, and 8% gap where not achieved.
Where continuity matters, and is achieved, 62% of consultations are resolved, cf only 39% where not achieved.
What next? • Balked at £13K + quoted for further input • Do it ourselves! • Working party - Doctor, Business Manager, Nurses, HCAs • "Suck it & see" • Regular review • Constant tweaking
Problem solved Admin question Come and see the nurse GP phones patient Come and see me Reception takes call How will the new system change things? 30% 10% 70% 60% 10% 20% PA Navigator measures the flows, which vary by GP & practice.
Principles • Triage all Doctor appointment requests • Ask patient if there is a specific Dr that they wish to speak to - if not, allocate in turn • Use Minor Illness clinic where appropriate • Clinicians can book future appointments - beware tomorrow's demand! • Never refuse an appointment if patient wishes to be seen
Others changes • Increase in Minor Illness clinic capacity • Move more Treatment Room activity to HCAs
Unchanged • Bloods • LTMC • Learning disability reviews • Mental health reviews • Postnatals • Baby checks • Baby immunisations
Outcomes - September 2013 • Average number of telephone calls/Dr/session - 17.7 (range 15.0 - 21.3) • Average number of face-to-face appointments/Dr/session - 4.4 (range 3.2 - 6.3) • Average conversion rate - 25% (range 18.2 - 36.3%)
Other findings • Demand is predictable (& finite!) • 3/4 of daily phone demand received by 1pm • 2/3 of total daily work (phone + face-to-face) dealt with by 1pm • Activity has fallen since outset, but now stable
How does it feel? Patients and Staff • Patient survey • 300 questionnaires sent • Ratio - 2 telephone only: 1 face-to-face • 110 responses received • Staff survey • 26 responses received
PATIENT - Did you find it convenient to receive a call back from the clinician during surgery hours?
PATIENT - Were you able to speak to/see the clinician of your choice?
PATIENT - Were you satisfied with the outcome of your telephone consultation?
PATIENT - If required, were you given an appointment on the day that you wished to be seen?
PATIENT - How was your experience of our new appointment system compared to our previous system?
STAFF - How would you rate your ability to meet your patients needs? (n=26)
STAFF - As a result of our new appointment system, do you feel more in control of your working day?
STAFF - What is your experience of our new appointment system compared to our previous system?
Pros • See the patients that need to be seen, not just those willing to wait • Better continuity • Better understanding of demand • Better able to match capacity to demand • Clinicians feel more in control of their working day • Fewer late finishes • Little needs cancelling if absence/sickness • All demand dealt with at end of day - the phones do stop ringing!
Cons • Hard, intense work - timely call backs important • Difficult for some people to receive call backs whilst at work • Very sensitive to "bums on seats" - can't restrict demand! • Requires stricter holiday planning • Half days • Needs telephone triage confidence • Need good LTC/QOF systems