Using virtual wards and long-term conditions management network to improve practice and performance.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Innovation
• Healthcare Technology Adoption
• Nursing Informatics

Background:

• Over 15 million people in England have long-term conditions, driving significant healthcare demand (50% of GP appointments, 70% of bed days).
• Digital technology offers potential to transform patient care, therapeutic relationships, and team collaboration.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote monitoring and digital health solutions within the National Health Service (NHS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a forum for healthcare professionals implementing technology-enabled remote monitoring and virtual ward solutions.
• To foster innovation, facilitate knowledge sharing, and develop cross-boundary relationships among project teams.
• To empower nurses and clinical leaders to integrate digital advancements into patient care.

Main Methods:

• A community of practice forum was organized by the Florence Nightingale Foundation and NHSX Digital Health team.
• Qualitative data collection methods were employed to assess the forum's impact.
• An online platform was developed to extend networking and resource access beyond the forum sessions.

Main Results:

• Forum members reported enhanced personal knowledge through peer learning.
• The forum strengthened professional relationships, fostering innovation and practice changes.
• Increased uptake of technology-enabled remote monitoring solutions and positive impacts on clinical practice were observed.

Conclusions:

• The community of practice model effectively supported innovation in digital health implementation.
• Nurse and clinical leader engagement is crucial for successful technology adoption in healthcare.
• Further quantitative data collection is recommended to validate the observed outcomes and impact on patient care.