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AI-triage system trial in Yorkshire CCG reduces A&E attendances by over a third

AI-triage system trial in Yorkshire CCG reduces A&E attendances by over a third
By Rebecca Gilroy
16 October 2019



A telephone-based management service has reduced admissions to hospital emergency departments by 36% for one CCG in the north of England. A randomised controlled trial of AI-based health coaching service, the Proactive Coaching Service, found improvements in health and quality of life in GP practice patients across the Vale of York CCG. The CCG saw that patients using the service showed a reduction in A&E attendances. The Vale of York CCG began rolling out the service to GP practice patients a couple of months ago with the Selby Town primary care network (PCN). Their north locality PCN is currently in the roll-out phase and it should be completed in the central locality PCN by end of December 2019. Increased demand Dr Andrew Lee, the executive director of primary care and population health at the CCG, said: ‘We know that nationally there is increasing demand for urgent and emergency care services. Some of this comes from patients with multiple and complex health conditions. ‘Through Proactive Health Coaching, we have a tried and tested preventative strategy that simultaneously provides better care for these patients and reduces stress on A&E departments and wider health services.’ The technology uses data analytics to identify patients with long-term health conditions who are potentially regular service users. They are then offered nurse-led support and coaching. The trial found that 55% of patients who used the service felt more engaged with their care – 84% reported improved confidence in managing their conditions. A telephone-based management service has reduced admissions to hospital emergency departments by 36%. A randomised controlled trial of AI-based health coaching service, the Proactive Coaching Service, found improvements in health and quality of life in patients across the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Working with the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the CCG saw that patients using the service showed a reduction in A&E attendances. The Vale of York CCG began rolling out the service into primary care a couple of months ago with the Selby Town primary care network (PCN). Their north locality PCN is currently in the roll-out phase and it should be completed in the central locality PCN by end of December 2019. Dr Andrew Lee, the executive director of primary care and population health at the CCG, said: ‘We know that nationally there is increasing demand for urgent and emergency care services. Some of this comes from patients with multiple and complex health conditions. ‘Through Proactive Health Coaching, we have a tried and tested preventative strategy that simultaneously provides better care for these patients and reduces stress on A&E departments and wider health services.’ The technology uses data analytics to identify patients with long-term health conditions who are potentially regular service users. They are then offered nurse-led support and coaching. The trial found that 55% of patients who used the service felt more engaged with their care – 84% reported improved confidence in managing their conditions.

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