Learning from practices
The examples below show how general practice teams used the tools to collect, present and analyse their demand and activity data.
Using Vision reports and a demand tool to test a new appointment system
Arbroath Medical Centre recently implemented a new appointment booking system intended to help manage demand by keeping more same day appointments free. To measure the new system’s effectiveness, they used a report available in their Vision software to track the number of appointments left at different times of each day over the course of one week. This data was then entered into a run chart tool to visualise trends in the data and the differences between the old and new appointment system. Read more about Arbroath Medical Centre access improvement work.
Understanding patient demand in general practice
At Barns Medical Practice, the team wanted to obtain an accurate picture of how many patient calls resulted in contact with their clinical team and how many were handled solely by the administrative team. Using specially designed demand collection sheets, the administrative team spent one week manually recording how many of each common type of request they received. Read more about Barns Medical Practice access improvement work.
Understanding home visit demand and activity in General Practice
Kirriemuir Medical Practice wanted to obtain a clear picture of demand and activity related to home visits. They also wanted to be able to track the impact of any future changes made to home visit processes. Using Excel spreadsheets, data on home visit demand and outcomes was collected retrospectively, then used to populate an interactive display. Read more about Kirriemuir Medical Practice access improvement work.
Collecting data to understand clinical demand in general practice
Lour Road Group Practice wanted to know if they could manage their current demand more effectively, or whether they needed more clinical staff resource to meet patient demand. To help make this assessment, their administrative team and clinical team used demand collection tally sheets to record the number and type of requests received that required clinical action. Learn more about Lour Road Group Practice access improvement work.
Collecting data for a high-level view of clinical demand
Ravenswood Surgery wanted to investigate the types of appointments patients requested when calling, what options they were offered, and whether there were opportunities to reduce demand on GPs by signposting patients to other services. To obtain a full picture of demand on their GPs, they decided to collect data on both patient requests coming to the administrative team by phone and messages being sent to GPs via DocMan. Learn more about Ravenswood Surgery access improvement work.
Understanding demands on clinical time
The practice team at Yell Health Centre wanted to collect data that would enable better understanding and management of clinical demand additional to standard appointments and consultations. Therefore, they chose to focus on non-appointment-related tasks assigned to the clinical team within the EMIS electronic patient record system. Learn more about Yell Health Centre access improvement work.