Chief executives of healthcare organisations have been asked to carry out a self-assessment exercise on their readiness to go paperless
Healthcare organisations in England have been asked to carry out an assessment of their levels of digital maturity in a project to compile a national index as a baseline for further progress.
It the latest step in the push towards a paperless NHS, outlined in the Five Year Forward View, NHS England has provided guidance for chief executives on self-assessment of their organisations, with a deadline of 15 January 2016 for completion.
It involves the use of a tool designed with Leeds University, UCLPartners and 35 other organisations, and which has been piloted by eight healthcare providers, for organisations to evaluate their readiness, capabilities and infrastructure to operate paper-free.
Beverley Bryant (pictured), NHS England’s director for digital technology, said: “The digital maturity self-assessment is the perfect opportunity for providers to shine a light on any obstacles they are facing in modernising services and make the case for additional support to move past these challenges.”
NHS England said it expects the first iteration of the index to be published in March of next year, following which it will be become part of the Care Quality Commission inspection regime.
Clinical commissioning groups will have to submit delivery plans by April for switching to online clinical systems by 2020, and will be able to use the digital maturity index in assessing their progress and how to allocate resources.
