New software, which will allow GP practice managers to improve healthcare for chronic illnesses including strokes, Alzheimer's and cancer, will be unveiled by scientists from The University of Manchester next week (13 & 14 March). Experts have devised a computer programme which analyses how many patients in a practice have suffered from different conditions over a particular time period and identifies those who might require hospital treatment in the future.
Against a back drop of a drive for NHS efficiency savings, they believe the software will help practice managers to spot patterns earlier and reduce the number of costly hospital admissions for conditions like strokes by providing early intervention treatments. The breakthrough, which is already being trialled at a North West hospital, is one of a number of health innovations going on display at the Europe's largest healthcare innovation event, the Healthcare Innovation Expo 2013, this month (March) held at the ExCeL Centre, London.
The software tool is part of the Greater Manchester Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) project. John Ainsworth, a Senior Research Fellow from The University of Manchester's Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, said the tool could lead to major changes in the way patients with certain conditions were treated. Known as COCPIT (Collaborative Online Care Pathway Investigation Tool), the software lets medics track patient journeys through the healthcare system and identify where care differs from guidelines.