Twenty two GP surgeries across North East London are using AI-driven technology to ease pressure on services.
The practices have signed up to use the online consultation system from Klinik, which is one of three such providers funded by the local clinical commissioning group (CCG) for use by local surgeries.
Klinik makes it easy for patients to give their local surgery the information they need via the phone, online, or in person. This information is then analysed using artificial intelligence to suggest how each enquiry could be best answered.
Doctors and other practice staff can then direct patients to the right member of the practice team, which could be a pharmacist, physiotherapist, or mental health professional. Staff from external organisations, such as community health providers, can also be used.
This helps to ease the pressure on GPs and gives patients a fairer and faster way of getting through to the right healthcare professional.
“Patient demand is at an all-time high, and we saw that GPs needed a range of digital solutions to help them cope,” said East London GP, Dr Laura Scott, who is clinical sponsor for remote consultations and flexible working at North East London CCG.
“Klinik is a system that can give GP surgeries a tool that helps them direct patients to the right care for needs.
“The purpose of the AI technology enables patients to access the skills of the right professional in the practice and the wider healthcare network, which can help release capacity to meet growing patient demand.”
The online triage and patient flow management technology is rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ by close to 90% of patients and professionals, and is used by hundreds of healthcare centres across the UK and Europe to help GPs manage appointments and consultations.
It can also provide data about patient enquiries that can be used to help measure and manage demand at a local and regional level.
“GPs and patients have embraced technology throughout the pandemic,” says Klinik UK managing director, Ben Wood.
“Now, thanks to the work of North East London CCG, GPs will be able to manage thousands more patient contacts and provide access to new skill sets for their local populations.
“The team at Klinik is looking forward to working with patients and surgeries across North East London on shaping Klinik to meet their precise needs.”