Healthcare Automation Transformation (CHAT23)
Introduction:
As part of Public Service Transformation Week, eHealth hosted a 1-day hackathon event title Challenge: Healthcare Automation Transformation (CHAT23) at Dr. Steevens Hospital on October 26, 2023. The event, a collaborative effort by the Digital Workflow Automation team in Corporate Delivery, the Chief Clinical Information Officer, and the National Clinical Information Officer for Nursing and Midwifery, aimed to tackle challenging work practices through digitization and automation.
In September, health and social care professionals were invited to submit proposals highlighting inefficient processes. We received an overwhelming response, with over 70 challenges. The selection panel faced the tough task of choosing six challenges to address at the event.
The final six challenges included:
- Increasing Efficiency in Processing Dietetic Transfers from Acute Services (Cork South Primary Care).
- Verification Process for Confirmation of Annual Renewal of Nursing & Midwifery License (NMBI).
- Identification of Pharmacy Prescriptions of Females of Child-Bearing Potential on Valproate Treatment (National Valproate Response Team).
- Digitize Paper-Based Activities (Public Health Nursing).
- Automated Nebulizer Device Approval and Delivery System (Kerry Community Services).
- Infusion Appointment DNA Rate (Endoscopy Unit Connolly Hospital).
During the event, each challenger team collaborated closely with a dedicated technical team to explore redesigning their work processes using digitized workflow and automation technologies. Our technical teams received support from product specialists at Microsoft and UiPath, who delved into conversations and identified how emerging AI capabilities could address the challenges.
Some teams even had prototypes rapidly built, offering a clearer view of how their redesigned process might function. At the end of the day, each challenger presented their future-state, technology-enabled design, highlighting key benefits such as improved patient care, efficiency, reduced risk, quality improvements, cost reduction, increased capacity, and better integration.
The hard work is just beginning! These proposed solutions are now in our activity pipeline, and we've already started working with the respective challengers with the goal of bringing their proposals to fruition.
Stay tuned for further updates on our progress!
Page updated 22/01/2024