Show My Patient ID
Owner
Show My Patient ID has been designed and built by NHS England’s Transformation Directorate Innovation Lab. The project is licensed under the MIT licence, which allows for free use of the software for modification, distribution, private use and commercial use.
Background
When patients and service-users are admitted to care settings, records must be created or located with their contact information, particularly when the need for care is unplanned. This is currently done through typed data collection during an initial conversation with a receptionist, which in A&E takes an average of 10 – 12 minutes.
Situation
Multiple issues can arise when patients provide verbal information that needs to be typed into a data collection system:
- queues can build up while staff take the required time to get patient details right on arrival
- verbal exchange of identifiable patient data occurs in the open, and may be too loud to allow for privacy in noisy reception areas or those with clear screens
- miskeying can lead to numerous problems, including the data privacy risk of confidential information being sent to the wrong address or mobile number
- incorrect information is also a clinical risk- if clinicians need to call GPs for correction or clarification it wastes time and increases risk in both settings
- information entered in one setting is usually not available in another, even in the same hospital, increasing patient and staff repetition and burden.
- accessibility and inclusion issues, whether from face masks, hearing loss, or a language barrier, can affect all of the above.
Aspiration
Show My Patient ID software was developed specifically to test how the Innovation Lab might save time, preserve patient privacy and reduce the potential for errors in the patient record.
Solution and impact
When a patient checks in with their name, address and date of birth, instead of verbally conveying their data, a Quick Response (QR code) could be quickly scanned on entry to a care setting. This allows for faster admissions, and fewer unplanned face-to-face conversations. QR codes are an inclusive and simple option that have become more widely used through the pandemic.
Show My Patient ID creates a new prototype feature in the NHS App, generating a QR code containing a service-user’s demographic data and NHS number. This code can be scanned by staff to enter that information directly into a Patient Administration System. By shifting to a QR code patients are able to share their data in a more simple, private, calm, and inclusive way. This improves both clinical efficiency and patient experience for all patients, but is particularly useful for vulnerable patients and marginalised groups.
Rob Walters, Principal Engineer and software builder for the Innovation Lab says:
My take on open source is that it’s not well adopted by the NHS. NHS digital and Transformation Directorate are pushing for it, but there’s a bit of reluctance from individual trusts. With this project we’re trying to lead by example to show what you can do with open sourcing code.
Functionality: what does it do?
Show My Patient ID tests automatic transfer of demographic information and the patient’s NHS number from a patient’s mobile device to a clinician’s computer. It:
- Helps patients stay in control of their personal data and its accuracy
- Reduces needless repetition in clinical settings
- Is open source, making it widely and freely available to reuse and recycle
Capabilities
- This project could be adapted to generate QR codes for any information that needs to be transferred quickly and efficiently.
Scope
Arrivals at any clinical setting, or when a patient is introduced to any health or social care system for the first time. Research has shown a reduction in check-in time from (on average) 1m 46 sec to 35 seconds, potentially saving staff time to the value of £95 million per year.
Key learning points
- Involving staff and patients in user research from the start allowed us to address key concerns that this would replace receptionists, rather than freeing up staff time for more useful patient-facing tasks
- Sharing the work with NHS colleagues meant a broader awareness of prototype development, influencing other programmes and features
- Using existing open source software meant faster and cheaper prototype development and testing, with a substantial reduction in work effort
Digital equalities
A conscious inclusion of representatives from marginalised groups in user research helped to understand how their needs could be met by the project, as above.
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Disclaimer
These case studies summarise user and patient experiences with digital solutions along the relevant care pathway. 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.
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Page last updated: September 2022