UK digital healthcare firms eConsult Health, HCI and Cognitant Group are collaborating to help GPs share health information videos with patients after online consultations.   

Cognitant Group’s health information service, Healthinote has been integrated with eConsult’s post consult messaging platform and toolbar, allowing GPs to search and prescribe a range of videos and other information by condition or symptom.

Up to 27 million NHS patients will have access to relevant content via HCI’s health and care video library, which contains more than 600 videos on topics such as maternity, diabetes, contraception, COPD and asthma.

WHY IT MATTERS 

With more than half of all NHS GP surgeries (3,200) currently using the eConsult platform, this new service aims to create a better patient experience and reduce pressure on practices.

According to a recent NHSX online survey, 62.5% of patients said that watching videos from the national health and care video library prevented them needing further contact with a healthcare professional. 

Meanwhile, eConsult Health’s research found that more than 70% of its requests are closed without the need for a face-to-face appointment.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Digital triage tool eConsult has gained traction during the COVID-19 crisis, becoming the most popular online consultation platform in the UK. It has also been adopted by the Ministry of Defence in 124 sites internationally.

In August this year, eConsult and Cognitant Group announced they had teamed up with Q doctor to launch a digital triage toolbar for NHS GPs.             

ON THE RECORD

Richard Wyatt-Haines, director of HCI, said: “This partnership arms GPs with clinically assured resources and enables accessible health information to be delivered and prescribed to patients at the appropriate point of the care journey to empower them with the information required to self-manage. 

“This collaboration reflects our desire to work with companies that share our vision and commitment to enhance a patient's digital experience, improve their confidence in self-management and ultimately remove unnecessary face to face appointments and pressure on the health system.”

Dr Murray Ellender, NHS GP and CEO of eConsult Health, said: “Creating a connected, easily accessible healthcare system is key to ensuring patients receive the best care possible. At eConsult Health, we believe that collaborating with best in breed partners can help achieve this goal, which is why we’re delighted to have worked with HCI and Cognitant Group on the integration of the health and care video library into the eConsult platform.”

Dr Tim Ringrose, CEO of Cognitant Group, said: “We are helping GPs share approved, easy to understand and accessible content with their patients.  With so much information in the public domain, patients and carers need to be able to access approved, relevant, and clear information and content which can be trusted.”