Most people, when they need to seek non-urgent medical advice, will contact their GP. Typically, this will involve ringing the practice, speaking with a receptionist, and booking a 10-minute face-to-face appointment slot.
Whilst this can be the most logical course of action at times, there are many instances in which an appointment with a GP is unnecessary, and the patient could be redirected to services elsewhere which would better suit their needs. By doing this, valuable time and resources are freed up to focus on those patients who truly need a face-to-face appointment.
So how can we cut down on time wasted, free up staff to focus on those who really need their help, and get patients where they need to be faster?
Patchs AI Care Navigator
Patchs AI Care Navigator harnesses the Artificial Intelligence in the Patchs Online Consultation system, to direct patients to more appropriate avenues of care.
The system is already equipped with signposting software that will establish the urgency of each request, assign cases to the most appropriate member of staff and decide if a face-to-face consultation is necessary.
Patchs AI Care Navigator builds on this same technology, allowing the system to be set up to determine different outcomes depending on how the patient answers certain questions.
For example, if the patient’s request is non-urgent and they have a sore throat, instead of sending the request through to a GP the system can direct the patient to Pharmacy First, where they can get advice and prescriptions directly from the local pharmacist. If a patient is following up on persistent back pain, the system could allow them to book an appointment directly with a First Contact Physio.
These outcomes can be tailored to the specific wants and needs of the practice and the local services available to patients.
By implementing Patchs AI Care Navigator, general practices can cut down on unnecessary phone calls and appointments, giving staff the time they need to focus on essential work, and ensuring appointment slots are available for those who truly need them.
If you want to direct patients to where they need to be faster and reduce the workload of busy GP staff, get in touch with us via our Patchs homepage to find out more about how Patchs AI Care Navigator can help your practice.