Four design principles for digital health
The Digital Healthcare Council has set out four key design principles it believes are essential to create a vibrant and sustainable digital health ecosystem that works for patients.
Its four principles are: people first, fair system rules, free and open information, and evidence-based practice.
The design paper discusses each of these principles in more detail.
It says: "The next few years will likely see profound changes in the reach and depth of digital healthcare.
"If we get the principles right, we can expect huge benefits for patients across the country, including those who often struggle to access provision in a way that fits their lifestyle and health needs.
"In turn, we can free hard-pressed resources to ensure we make the most of the highly skilled staff who work tirelessly day in, day out."
Search patient experience reports
Healthwatch has produced a tool enabling healthcare organisations to search for patient experience information.
The reports library tool allows professionals to search nearly 3,000 local Healthwatch publications, made up of more than 420,000 views.
Subjects covered include everything from mental health and care homes to people's experiences of leaving hospital.
Study: Quality improvement in end of life care
Researchers have evaluated a Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC) improvement programme which included patient shadowing.
Many staff described the process of shadowing as a transformative experience alerting them to immediate areas where their services could be improved.
However, engaging with patient experience of end of life care services also had unintended consequences for some staff in the form of emotional labour.
Researchers concluded, that connecting with patient experience is crucial to a number of quality improvement programmes.
However, there may be unintended consequences for health care service staff, particularly in sensitive areas of service delivery such as end of life care.
Running a successful patient group
Mike Etkind is chair of a Buckinghamshire patient participation group (PPG) that has teamed up with others in the area to form a primary care network-wide patient group,.
The group is thought to be one of the first of its kind in the country.
While he says there is no one-size-fits-all approach to setting up and running a successful PPG, in this blog Mike offers some top tips.
EU health report calls for widespread digital literacy
A European Commission health report says digital tools, services and tools have 'great potential' when it comes to health promotion and disease prevention.
However, State of Health in the EU also warns digital solutions may give rise to new or increased inequalities between people who do and do not have the skills to harness their potential.
It says: "Employing digital solutions to strengthen health and well-being will require equal digital opportunities, widespread digital literacy, strong digital security and well-designed, effective tools, services and platforms."
Care and support jargon buster
Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) has developed a free online jargon buster.
The Care and Support Jargon Buster is an A-Z directory of Plain English definitions of the most commonly used words and phrases in health and social care.
As well as being free to use, site visitors can email the TLAP team with suggestions for jargon which is not yet included or add the jargon buster to their own site.
Self Care Week Awards
Entries are now open for the Self Care Week Awards.
As well as an award for the overall winner, recognition will also be given to the most innovative initiative.
NHS Clinical Commissioners will also be joining the judging panel to choose the most 'outstanding CCG'.
The deadline for entries is 31 January 2020.
Health for Life conference
Health Literacy UK is hosting a conference exploring how health literacy supports health throughout the life course.
Health for Life will be held at King's Hall, Newcastle, on 20 April 2020.
The deadline for abstract submission is 31 January 2020.