Digitally-enabled physio: CSP helps create landmark guide

A Digital Framework for Allied Health Professionals, published by NHS England, can help managers identify the education and training requirements of staff. The aim is to support managers in creating a digitally literate and empowered workforce.

The CSP was on the steering group for the framework, which sets out digital goals. They include that physiotherapy and other allied health profession services should be capturing records and care plans digitally. For instance, transfers of care should be supported digitally.

The document says that if digital standards exist, use them. If not, physiotherapy staff should work with other professionals to make sure that content meets the requirements of those receiving the information.

Working with digital teams

It is important that physiotherapists who have independent or supplementary prescribing responsibilities work closely with their information and digital teams. They should have the relevant access rights and prescribing details associated with their user profile. Unnecessary workarounds must be avoided.

Another goal is for physiotherapy staff to keep up-to-date with developments in remote care. All physio staff should find evidence about remote systems and consider how they could deliver improvements. Used effectively, remote care can deliver better patient safety, clinical outcomes, staff experience, patient experience and resource sustainability, the document says.

Action-oriented strategy

Sue Hayward-Giles, the CSP’s assistant director practice development, welcomed the framework and described it as accessible and action-orientated.

'It signposts you to the digital priorities you might need to address in order to improve your service,’ she said.

‘As well as to helping you create a more digitally-literate workforce, it will also support you to improve the digital capability of services.

‘For example, integrated services have the potential to dramatically improve the quality of patient care. Digital records are a key element of the infrastructure needed to support integrated services.’