QR Information Pods: Communicating Digitally with Patients

This Bevan Exemplar project introduced Patient Digital Information Hubs to provide up to date information to patients as an alternative to leaflets.

Background

Digital information hubs are an innovative means for providing information on services, conditions and sources of support to patients using digital technology available on smartphones and other handheld devices. The type of information provided includes written information, links to websites and videos on self-management. The Health Board are able to analyse the type of information accessed to help better understand patients’ needs.

Providing up to date information in a variety of media supports the aims of Prudent Healthcare, by supporting patients to become active participants in their health and wellbeing. Using a central information hub ensures that we provide evidence based information to patients, reducing the risk of variation in the information that is provided to patients

Aims

• To reduce ‘information overload’ and to provide targeted, up to date and relevant information to our patients.

• To use digital technology to make information easier to access and store for patients.

• To control the quality of information given to patients.

• To reduce printing and associated costs, from reducing the number of leaflets used.

• To be able to provide information in a range of languages, without the need for multiple copies of the same leaflet.

• To better understand what types of information patients require.

• To have a positive environmental impact through reducing the number of leaflets used.

Outcomes

• Staff and patients co-produced the information pods by telling us what their information needs were, in terms of condition management and any further support they needed.

• Information to be used was quality checked and variation removed.

• The design of the pods was then shared with the Swansea Bay University Health Board Disability Reference Group and piloted with a patient group to ensure that it was easy to read and use.

• The ability to scrutinise data to see what information is accessed means that health providers can target information and also identify areas of unmet need through the pods.

QR codes allow patients to discreetly access potentially sensitive information, for example sexual health and domestic abuse information

Next steps

Digital Information Hubs can be used in a variety of healthcare settings.

The accessibility of the pods means that if someone can use their smart phone, they can use these pods to access a range of information in a variety of formats without the need for a dedicated app.

The project has initially been delivered in the Minor Injuries Unit in Neath Port Talbot, Physiotherapy and the Rheumatology Service, with the intention to roll it out to other areas within the Health Board.

Within Swansea Bay Health Board we will look to use Digital Information Hubs in a range of settings with high volumes of patient attendances, or those who would benefit from having information available in formats such as video or audio.

Part of cohort Bevan Exemplar Projects 2018-19