System-wide remote monitoring project wins at the HSJ Digital Awards
Integrated Care Northamptonshire – along with health and social care partners West Northamptonshire Council, North Northamptonshire Council, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and healthcare technology experts Docobo - is delighted to announce their collaborative project ‘Remote Monitoring in the community’ has won the 'Improving out of hospital care through digital' category at the inaugural HSJ Digital Awards.
The awards, which took place on Thursday 22 June in Manchester, recognise outstanding contribution to healthcare and earning the opportunity to showcase their achievements on a national platform. The team were also Highly Commended in the ‘Connecting Health and Social Care through Digital’ category.
The remote monitoring project has been developed to support people in care homes and in the community as part of the Integrated Care Northamptonshire’s Ageing Well programme.
Teams from West Northamptonshire Council, North Northamptonshire Council, and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have been working on the remote monitoring project with Docobo to roll out the technology across 11 care homes so far with a further 9 onboarded later this year.
One of the care homes using the technology with the Virtual Clinical Hub has reported the average number of GP same-day appointment requests being reduced from 15 per week to an average of 6 per week freeing up GPs’ time to care for those residents in greater need. Within the same care home, the number of ambulances being called out has also dropped from 60 per month to 8 per month.
Patients are monitored by a Virtual Clinical Hub Team using Docobo’s DOC@HOME platform. Carers or patients can enter vital signs and answer questions about their health onto a device, which is then automatically and securely sent to the clinical hub. Patients are monitored daily or three times a day depending on their clinical needs and whenever an anomaly is detected.
The Remote Monitoring project was shortlisted in total for an impressive three categories at the HSJ Digital Awards:
- Empowering patients through digital
- Connecting health and social care through digital – Highly Commended
- Improving out of hospital care through digital – Winner
The judges commented that the project was “an excellent example of how a well-thought-out model can succeed on multiple levels – reducing demand in other areas, giving patients confidence in out-of-hospital care, and increasing efficiency. There is a clear vision here for innovative developments to take this initiative further and expand.”
Paula Love, Lead Nurse for Integrated Care Transformation and Interim Lead for the remote monitoring Virtual Clinical Care Team Hub said:
“It is a great honour to be given an HSJ Digital Award and to be given two is truly amazing. I am so proud of the success and achievements of this project to date.
"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has played a role in helping us achieve these awards. These awards are a testament to the hard work, dedication and passion given by all those involved in setting up and delivering the service. From the clinical team to the project support, the social care team, the technical teams, the comms teams, senior management, the care home staff and the patients themselves.
"It is a truly collaborative approach to supporting people in a proactive way helping them to stay well in the community and one that now has the foundations to support many more people in Northamptonshire.”
Pedro Santos, Team Manager - Assistive Technology and AT Project Lead for West Northamptonshire Council said:
“I’m absolutely thrilled and overjoyed that we have won the prestigious HSJ award! This remarkable achievement is a testament to our collective dedication, commitment, and exceptional teamwork. This award is not just an acknowledgment of our accomplishments; it is a celebration of our partnerships, shared vision, efforts, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
"Our success would not have been possible without the support and guidance of our leadership team, who have nurtured an environment of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
"I would like to extend our gratitude to our colleagues from NHFT, North and West Northamptonshire Councils, who have stood by us every step of the way. Your hard work, expertise, and commitment have been the driving force behind our achievements. Together, we have surpassed expectations and made a positive impact on health and social care outcomes.
"I’m also deeply grateful to our patients, care homes, and the communities we serve. Their trust, resilience, and inspiring stories have motivated us to push the boundaries of what is possible in health and social care. It is their voices and experiences that guide our work and reinforce the significance of our mission.
"This award is not just a symbol of recognition; it is a reminder of our purpose and the transformative impact we can have on people's lives. Let us celebrate this achievement together and use it as a stepping stone for even greater accomplishments in the future in Northamptonshire.”
Find out more about the remote monitoring project here.