Networks for future healthcare.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Governance
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) initiative was established to enhance patient care within the NHS in England.
• It originated as a pilot focused on reducing unwarranted variation in elective orthopaedic surgery.
• The GIRFT process utilizes in-depth service reviews, benchmarking, and data-driven evidence to support clinical change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the ethos and expansion of the GIRFT program across 40 clinical specialties.
• To highlight how GIRFT's clinically-led deep dives improve care standards and achieve cost savings.
• To illustrate the role of networks in GIRFT recommendations with specific examples.

Main Methods:

• Clinically-led deep dives into individual service activities.
• Benchmarking of clinical services against best practices.
• Data-driven evidence generation to support service improvement.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in standards of care within orthopaedic surgery.
• Substantial cost savings identified, allowing for reinvestment in clinical services.
• Expansion of the GIRFT model to 40 diverse clinical specialties.

Conclusions:

• The GIRFT approach is effective in improving healthcare quality and efficiency.
• Clinically-led reviews and data analysis are key drivers of positive change.
• Networks are integral to GIRFT's strategy for implementing recommendations and standardizing care.