Cardiology digital playbook

This resource provides support to clinical teams and organisations that are looking for digital tools that support the delivery of patient pathways. We concentrate on cardiology pathways and how to deliver monitoring and support to patients. We welcome feedback on the playbooks, including ideas for further case studies. To get in touch, please email digital.playbooks@nhs.net

Scenarios

I need to monitor patients’ vital signs remotely

Remote monitoring of vital signs to identify rapid deterioration using devices and digital platforms that provide access to information, diagnostics and clinical teams.

I need to offer virtual rehabilitation services

Provide patients with the information they need to lead effective self-management, such as feedback on adherence to the rehabilitation programmes and results in real time.

I want to offer digital services as an option for patients with hypertension

Opportunities to create and expand the range and responsiveness of personalised care services to patients.

I want to offer digital services as an option for patients with heart failure

Opportunities to create and expand the range and responsiveness of personalised care services to patients.

I want to offer digital services as an option for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)

Opportunities to create and expand the range and responsiveness of personalised care services to patients.

I want to improve efficiency, productivity and patient safety in my unit

Digital solutions for managing and scheduling patients in catheterisation labs, procedure rooms and operating theatres in real-time

Pathway

Cardiology pathway

Explore case studies at different steps along the cardiology pathway

Case studies

A red cartoonish heart next to a stethoscope on a piece of paper with heart readings

An integrated digital solution for scheduling and delivering cardiovascular procedures in real-time

A fully integrated, real-time digital workflow system for cardiac catheterisation labs that maximises efficiency and patient safety.

Remote monitoring of patients with heart failure and hypertension

All Together Better Sunderland piloted a digital solution which enabled hundreds of elderly and vulnerable people in self-isolation to receive healthcare support using home care technology.

Patient portal to enable patients to manage their own appointments

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is improving its outpatients’ experiences by using a mobile app to gather and share data.

Remote monitoring system to enhance patient care

East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) rolled out a digital patient monitoring system to support the remote home management of patients with long-term conditions such as heart failure.

Virtual outpatient clinic for remote follow-ups post-catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

Virtual outpatient clinic for remote follow-ups post-acute myocardial infarction

Barts NHS Trust used digital technology to provide timely follow-up of patients post-acute myocardial infarction that enabled identification of symptomatic recurrences or late complications.

Remote ECG monitoring and AI-assisted analysis to improve reporting times and increase accuracy

Remote ECG monitoring and AI-assisted analysis to improve reporting times and accuracy

Bradford District Care Foundation Trust has adopted new technology which makes it easier and faster to get an ECG report and take the required action.

Empowering Cambridge patients through digital access to their health information

Cambridge University Hospitals deployed an electronic patient portal at Addenbrooke’s and The Rosie hospitals which allows patients to securely access part of their health record held within the hospitals’ electronic patient record system.

Person sat down holding a tablet device and looking at the screen

A booking platform for visiting inpatient wards at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals

A booking system that allows visitors to safely visit hospital wards during opening times

Online cardiac rehabilitation to support self-management

Leicester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has developed its own digital cardiac rehabilitation service which is available to others through NHS IP.

Cardiac rehabilitation programme for people who have heart problems

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has implemented an online cardiac prevention and rehabilitation programme.

Health and care videos to provide advice and guidance

Torbay and South Devon NHSFT has partnered with a Devon-based enterprise to offer patient advice videos in 135 different specialties.

Remote monitoring for people living with heart failure to reduce A&E admissions

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust introduced a bespoke heart failure and COPD remote monitoring service to measure patients' vital signs from home.

Doctor wearing a stethoscope to listen to a patient's pulse while also taking a blood pressure reading

Telemonitoring at scale for hypertension in primary care

Telemonitoring at scale for hypertension in primary care.

Close up of a finger in a device that takes blood pressure

Digitally managing preoperative hypertension to avoid surgical cancellations

Sherwood Forest Hospital used a telehealth service to establish whether a patient’s initial high blood pressure reading is confirmed hypertension, or merely an isolated incident.

A messaging app that allow clinicians to communicate securely

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust deployed a messaging app, allowing clinicians to contact each other quickly and securely.

Delivering digitally enhanced cardiac rehabilitation during COVID-19 restrictions

This case study describes how an NHS provider successfully used a digital tool to provide cardiac rehabilitation throughout COVID-19 restrictions.

A patient sat on a sofa looking at a smartphone

A personalised cardiac rehabilitation programme to remotely monitor patients

A programme to help a cardiac rehabilitation team to deliver a remotely monitored service via a patient facing app and clinician data portal.

Transforming heart failure diagnosis pathway to improve the patient journey

A digital service in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to transform the heart failure pathway.

Cardiology webinar

Watch the digital innovation in cardiology webinar we presented with the Royal College of Physicians on 21 April 2021. This webinar is available to watch until May 2022.

Disclaimer

These case studies summarise user and patient experiences, focussing on:

digital solutions along different care pathways
productivity improving digital solutions
how to open source code for health and care organisations

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the apps and digital tools referenced are not supplied, distributed or endorsed by NHS England or the Department of Health and Social Care and such parties are not liable for any injury, loss or damage arising from their use.

All playbook case studies have either passed, or are currently undergoing the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) assessment.

Please note the full legal disclaimer: NHS Transformation Directorate playbook disclaimer