Embracing the AI Era: The Future of the NHS with Digital Health Records
In the era of AI, sharing information has emerged as both a valuable resource and a potential threat to citizens' privacy. The paper, "Preparing the NHS for the AI Era: A Digital Health Record for Every Citizen" explores the significant benefits of information sharing within the healthcare sector. It highlights how sharing information with patients and their families can align with healthcare priorities and unlock economic benefits through citizen-held records.
A substantial reform of the NHS is one of the primary goals of the new UK government. According to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, achieving this reform requires executing three main shifts:
From treatment to prevention
From hospitals to primary and community care
From analogue to digital
Patient data is at the core of these shifts. Research has shown that the more information shared with patients and their families, the more engaged they become in managing their own healthcare. When patients have access to their health information, they are more likely to take proactive steps in self-care.
The Tony Blair Institute's proposal, as outlined in the paper advocates for the creation of digital health records (DHRs) to drive healthcare improvements and prepare the NHS for the AI era. The most valuable data within a DHR should come from primary care, where frequent patient interactions generate critical information that can be readily available to the NHS when needed.
This initiative aligns perfectly with "The Lister Alliance," a Cisco-funded NHS consortium project. For example, in our Plymouth Living Lab, we are leveraging technology to promote anticipatory care and keep people healthier in their homes for longer.
The proposed DHR system is designed to unlock the benefits of AI and establish new models of care. The DHR should be built on the following components:
Data Core: A cloud infrastructure consolidating personal health data from multiple providers in one place.
Applications Layer: An interface between the data core and users, allowing access to the data.
Patient Portal: A secure website or app for patients to view, share, and process their data. Patients can also upload content like photos, forms, and wearables data.
Provider Portal: A secure website, app, or provider-management system for healthcare providers to view the DHR, upload content (such as diagnoses and treatments), and use built-in algorithms for clinical decision-making.
Insurer Portal: A secure portal for insurers to access anonymized and aggregated data about the population's risk profile.
Given the proposed structure of the DHR, I believe it is crucial to focus on stakeholder and patient engagement. The technical and digital solutions implemented must interface seamlessly with end-users, including patients, medical staff, and caregivers. This requires us to empower these individuals with digital skills.
At Cisco, we are deeply committed to empowering people with digital skills through our free digital learning platform, Cisco Networking Academy, which has been running for 26 years. We view this as an investment in people, believing that technology is only as effective as the individuals managing it. In the context of healthcare, it is essential not only to ensure patients have access to their records but also to guarantee the protection and security of their data.
This paper captures the essence of what an effective NHS reform should be. It supports healthcare transformation and aids the government in pursuing economic growth in this sector, enhancing the lives of patients and their families, and providing hope for research and development efforts aimed at saving more lives through new technologies.
Read the full paper here.
