Navigating interoperability within the NHS: Connecting for better care
Dr Ben Herring,
GP and Product Manager at Locum’s Nest
Navigating the modern healthcare landscape can be tricky, with a relentless cycle of passwords and platforms. Clinical data and administrative chores, each demanding their own pathways. Oddly, uniformity vanishes within the same corridors and departments, leaving us to embrace new software over and over again. The digital age promised ease, yet we continue to input the same data across different systems. Among the software clutter, clinicians lack the vital bridge — interoperability.
Imagine software systems talking to each other in a seamless way, with data flowing and translation occurring automatically. This is the essence of interoperability—systems not just coexisting, but working together. Often mentioned in the same breath is "integration," symbolising the important data link between two software platforms. Together, they hold the key to unlocking efficiency in the NHS digital ecosystem.
At Locum's Nest, we're committed to unravelling complexity through interoperability solutions. We're not just about technology; we're about listening and acting. Many of our interoperability projects are born out of the needs expressed by our partners, and we take pride in driving these initiatives for the greater good of the healthcare sector. Our dedicated interoperability product, Link, allows our partner organisations to seamlessly manage integrations.
Here’s some examples of what this looks like in action:
Our Link solution offers integration options with ESR i.e. We can both send and receive data from ESR.
Receiving - Allows ESR to continue to be the ‘source of truth’ for worker details, which can now be used to strengthen compliance and visibility of key data within Locum’s Nest. This, in turn, will improve the speed and efficiency of the payroll process
Sending - Our payroll data will be seamlessly sent and processed by ESR, at the frequency the organisation needs, in the format required
This not only streamlines operations but reduces the potential for errors and payment delays linked to manual data handling. Efficiency increases as employees seamlessly apply for shifts immediately upon ESR integration, boosting shift rates and minimising disruptions. On the compliance front, cross-referencing ESR details, such as healthcare professional grades/bands, before approving shifts, stands as a pivotal step to ensure compliance.
Another example is working with existing rostering systems/suppliers within our partner Trusts. The rostering system sends staff schedules and bank shift information to Locum's Nest, which can be thousands of shifts each week. It also gets updates from Locum's Nest, like who accepted a shift. This synchronisation ensures the roster remains the 'source of truth,' enabling compliance with regulations such as the working time directive. Additionally, the system efficiently manages shifts requiring agency support, providing a seamless end-to-end workforce process for healthcare trusts. We choose to work with best-in-class partners, some of which are rostering platforms such as RotaGeek, HealthRota, Allocate.
Our partnership with other supplier teams revolves around the principle of open communication. We proactively reach out and schedule meetings early to co-create a mutual integration plan. We place a significant focus on setting clear milestones and developing a joint project plan, also ensuring that both sides have named project leads and maintain a regular meeting schedule to foster transparent communication. While we acknowledge the challenges stemming from varying company dynamics and priorities, we firmly believe that effective communication is the linchpin.
We're committed to collaborating with our partner organisations and third-party providers to enhance interoperability for the NHS. Our mission is to make interoperability standard practice in the NHS, a fundamental part of how healthcare operates.
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Are you interested in learning more about interoperability of our solutions? Email me on ben@locumsnest.co.uk