The North London Community Dermatology Service (NLCDS), which started 1st July 2008 and based at The Royal Free Hospital Hampstead, are now benefiting from receiving appointment reminders to their mobiles phones via text message on an ongoing basis. The NLCDS have started using the iPLATO Patient Care Messaging (PCM) system in line with an increasing trend to utilise mobile technology to efficiently communicate with out-patients. The iPLATO text messaging service will be used to automatically send appointment reminders to the mobile phones of the relevant out-patients. On receiving a message, the out-patient can reply via text - all replies being routed as an email to a predetermined email address. The service also benefits from sophisticated reporting functionality, enabling users to manage all aspects of the system effectively.
Like many NHS organisation, the NLCDS is keen to reduce 'Did not attend' (DNA) rates and improve patient Access. The cost savings and increased efficiency possible with this approach makes projects of this nature very timely given the current economic downturn.
According to Imperial College researchers, non-attendance to appointments cost the NHS - and the tax payer - more than £750 million per year. The iPLATO system has proven to reduce non-attendance in General Practice by between 26% and 40%. In addition to reaping financial benefits through increased efficiency, health services can establish an effective communication channel for health information.
With an estimated 82% of the UK adult population owning a mobile phone, iPLATO PCM users will be able to reach a significant number of their patients through this scheme. Text messages are free to receive for the patient. If patients choose to respond, they will be charged standard operator rates depending on their individual contract. To achieve optimal uptake of and the subsequent benefits of this service, patients are encouraged to hand in their mobile contact details for their records to be updated.
Dr. Nirmin Patel, Interim Service Manager, North London Community Dermatology Service said, "The system is very useful for reminding patients about their appointments, especially as many patients forget about their appointments due to long lead times and misplace their original appointment letters. Reminding them the week before and also two days before their appointment is a great way of ensuring that they attend and gives them ample time to cancel it. The reporting feature on the system is also a very useful tool for identifying mobile numbers that are incorrect so that patient information can be updated."
Related news articles:
- iPLATO's Profile
About The Royal Free Hospital
The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust has around 900 beds and sees about 700,000 patients a year from all over the world . We employ around 4,600 people and have a turnover of about £450m.
Our services include a major accident and emergency service, all branches of surgery and medicine, a renal service serving the whole of north London, paediatrics, maternity services, care of elderly people, an adolescent psychiatric service and one of two high security infectious diseases units in the country.
We are renowned for our specialist services including liver, kidney and bone marrow transplantation, renal, AIDS/HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, paediatric gastroenterology, ENT surgery and audiological medicine, amyloidosis and scleroderma. We are a leading cancer centre with a range of specialist diagnostic and treatment services in oncology and haematology and a major neuroscience base with a network extending throughout north London and into the Home Counties. There are associated internationally recognised research and training programmes.
The hospitals and associated medical school conduct medical research, much of which is of international status, and constitute a leading site for the training of doctors, nurses, midwives and professions allied to medicine.
About iPLATO
iPLATO is independent innovation company founded in London in the autumn of 1999. In 2003, iPLATO was awarded a SMART Feasibility Grant by the Department of Trade and Industry to study the feasibility for national implementation of a system to remind outpatients about scheduled appointments using text messaging technology.
2008 saw extensive roll out of iPLATO Patient Care Messaging to GP surgeries across 12 Primary Care Trusts in England. Recognised by the European Commission as one of the top ten early stage technology ventures ready to "reshape their industry and to conquer the global market" iPLATO has also featured on the Red Herring Europe Top 200.
Our solutions improve patient access to healthcare, deliver population-wide mobile health promotion and support people with long term conditions. Our mission is to support patients in achieving longer, healthier lives.