July 2019

July 2019

Project Name: Back to the Future (Chronic Back Pain)

Joint Working Project Summary: 

Diagnostic delay is a major challenge in the effective treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. 

The aim of the project is to develop, assess, and implement software within existing GP IT systems which will trigger certain messages to pop-up on a GP’s computer screen when certain input terms are inputted into the GP IT system (the “Tool”). 

The aim of the Tool is to aid and support GPs in correctly identifying patients with inflammatory back pain and increasing the likelihood of appropriate referral to a rheumatologist.

The project will run in three phases:

Phase 1:

The trust shall select two GP practices to participate in the project. 

Development of the Tool.

Phase 2:

An assessment shall take place in each GP practice of patients who:

  • registered with such GP practice during the 8-10 year period prior to the date of the assessment; and
  • who suffer from back pain. 

This assessment will provide a greater understanding of the current system in place to identify and refer patients with inflammatory back pain.

Phase 3:

Evaluation of service provided to patients with back pain following implementation of the Tool.

Expected Patient Outcomes for this Project: 

If successful it is anticipated that patient care may be improved through the optimising of the current diagnostic and referral pathway to ensure patients with chronic inflammatory back pain are identified in primary care and assessed and referred as per NICE clinical guidelines. This may lead to a reduction in time to diagnosis and referral as well as improved patient outcomes. 

Expansion of the project across an entire locality may potentially result in more consistent and better care.

 

Start Date and Duration: August 2019, 18 months

Project Name: Excellence in Heart Failure: AHSN Collaborative Project

Joint Working Project Summary: 

The Joint Working Project will involve the building of a program framework and a business case so that Excellence in Heart Failure can be adopted as an AHSN National Project and Excellence in Heart Failure initiatives can be deployed across the country.

 

The program framework shall comprise, among others, an Excellence in Heart Failure Toolkit (the “Toolkit”) to support AHSN project implementation teams in the rollout of the project at a locality level.

Expected Patient Outcomes for this Project: 

The core deliverables for this Joint Working project will be:

  1. the development of a framework for deployment of the Excellence in Heart  Failure project across multiple AHSNs;
  2. creation of the Toolkit
  3. creation and submission of a business case proposing Excellence in Heart Failure as an  AHSN National Project.

 

Start Date and Duration: July 2019, 20 months

 

November 2020 | CVM19-C036(1)

Project Name: A clinical audit of patients with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and subsequent review of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis identified as being sub-optimally treated 

Joint Working Project Summary: 

The project involves:

  • the creation and population of a database which holds information on patients with AS, PsA, RA & nr AxSpa;
  • a clinical audit of all patients with AS, PsA, RA & nr AxSpa currently active and on treatment against local and national guidelines for patient treatment and care;

a medicines optimisation review of the AS & PsA patients identified as not receiving care and treatment in accordance with local and national guidelines.

Expected Patient Outcomes for this Project: 

The project will support the trust in gaining a better understanding of the services provided to patients and identify key areas for service improvement. The medicines optimisation reviews have the potential to provide AS & PsA patient’s with better treatment and care in line with local and national guidelines  and may also identify stable patients who may be managed via the telephone triage service set up by the trust (such triage service being outside of the scope of the project). 

 

Start Date and Duration: August 2019, 19 months

Project Name: Development of a new and expanded medical Retina Unit by repurposing the current underutilised clinic rooms and waiting area

Joint Working Project Summary: 

The project will include the redesign and repurposing of the underutilised clinic area in the Trust premises. It will enable the maintenance of timely appointments in line with the applicable national guidelines, and allow for the forecasted continued increase in demand, and ultimately ensure there is adequate capacity to manage current and future workload. It will also ensure patient-centric treatment can be reliably delivered, and in addition, will allow the Trust the ability to offer a one-stop clinic environment reducing the need for costly weekend additional clinics.

Specifically, the project aims at providing:

  • improved patient experience with the new service design through reduced waiting times, reduced clinic visits and less actual time once in clinic;
  • more efficient use of NHS resources through improved flow of the service and resource utilisation deriving, from not having patients back for “injection only” visits, and a reduction  of weekend clinics.
  • dedicated medical retinal area and equipment (not clean room): improved efficiencies in patient throughput and less demand on equipment from other departments causing patient and staff waits.

Expected Patient Benefits: 

  • improved patient experience with the new service design;
  • reduced waiting times;
  • reduced clinic visits and less actual time once in clinic.

 

Start Date and Duration: July 2019, 14 months

Project Name: Creation of an In-Reach and Out-Reach Heart Failure Service for Cwm Taf North

Joint Working Project Summary: 

The Joint Working Project will involve the introduction of a hospital-based in-patient service and fortnightly community-based diagnostic clinics. The service will offer ongoing self-management advice and psychological support for patients and their carers. It will also be a point of call for GPs and other health care professionals within the hospital and local area, requiring advice for Heart Failure patients, streamlining and improving communication between primary and secondary care.

Expected Patient Outcomes for this Project: 

The following measures will be evaluated by the Trust:

  • timely specialist assessment and management of patients. In particular those:
    • with a possible new diagnosis of HF;
    • with a new ascertained diagnosis of HF;
    • with decompensating symptoms, from
    • within the hospital (emergency department) or outside of the hospital setting;
    • recently discharged from hospital with
    • decompensated HF;
  • early future management plans, i.e.: palliative care, revascularisation, device therapy, etc.
  • oversight of individual management plans by a HF specialist;
  • care closer to home where possible, including clinics in Kier Hardie Health Park, a local primary care facility;
  • improved Primary Care referrals for HF diagnosis and management;
  • self-management advice;
  • psychological support for patients and their carers; and
  • a link into primary care/community teams to facilitate transfer of care post-discharge.

Start Date and Duration: July 2019, 30 Months

Related Links