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  • Moira Mackenzie

    Moira MackenzieDeputy Chief Executive Officer/Director of Innovation < Return to team Moira Mackenzie Deputy Chief Executive Officer/Director of Innovation Moira is a key member of our executive team and she believes that the progress of any country can best be evidenced by the quality of care it provides to its most vulnerable citizens. She has over 30 years’ of experience in leading complex transformational change developments, enabled by digital within health, housing and care environments. Moira led West Lothian Council's ground-breaking Opening Doors for Older People Initiative, which inspired subsequent influential and high-profile roles including leadership of the Scottish Government’s National Telecare Development Programme and Head of Service for the high-achieving Scottish Centre for Telehealth & Telecare, which led the roll-out of Home & Mobile Health Monitoring, Telecare, computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and virtual consultations across Scotland. Within DHI, Moira leads senior stakeholder engagement, design, finance, comms & marketing functions to identify collaborative health & care opportunities where DHI can add the most value from its expertise in digitally enabled research & innovation. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

  • Transforming Diabetes Care Through Innovation

    Transforming Diabetes Care Through Innovation –mapping the current landscape and identifying future priorities in Scotland < Return to projects Transforming Diabetes Care Through Innovation Project impact The project generated significant interest from health professionals and people with diabetes, with 275 survey responses, eight interviews, and five workshops to map current projects and identify future innovation opportunities. Over 30 innovation projects were identified, revealing five challenges in diabetes care: implementation, resourcing, variation in services, integrating user data, and managing expectations. Future landscape mapping identified seven key thematic challenges in diabetes innovation: individualising care, lifestyles, education, inequalities, mental wellbeing, technology, and flexible care pathways. Transforming Diabetes Care Through Innovation –mapping the current landscape and identifying future priorities in Scotland This participatory design led innovation Diabetes project was sponsored by the Scottish Diabetes Group in collaboration with Chief Scientist office. The research undertook a novel, and person-centred approach to identifying innovation priorities and explored the impact of current innovations on the experiences of service users. Mixed method approaches brought together survey data and user experiences to map current and future state priorities and innovation ideas. and analysis of the current projects live diabetes innovation landscape in Scotland and readiness for scale up. These insights were all presented in a series of digital maps and have been published as part of the outputs from this work. Summary Focusing on users' needs in innovation, as highlighted by this research, provides valuable insights into unmet needs and aspirations. Participatory design fosters collaboration, empathy, and a deeper understanding of challenges, leading to more sustainable, scalable solutions. The research has informed decision-makers in supporting continued investment in diabetes technologies and contributed to future demand work within the Chief Scientist Office Innovation Portfolio. This approach offers a framework for identifying future innovation projects in NHS Scotland. The research was presented at the National Services Research Conference (July 2024) and won the Best Poster Award at the Digital Health and Care Conference (December 2023). Impact & value Following a “round table” session with senior stakeholders a shortened list of priority themes has emerged, and pipeline proposals are in development within DHI. Research outputs published in November 2024. Progress to date Next steps Diabetes project hub DHI uniquely drives Diabetes Innovation in Scotland by collaborating with NHS, industry, academia, and individuals with lived experiences to advance innovation and funding opportunities. View hub Partners Project staff Resources Transforming Diabetes Care Through Innovation – Survey Results Transforming Diabetes Care Through Innovation – Summary Report IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES AND MAPPING THE DIABETES INNOVATION LANDSCAPE IN SCOTLAND Previous project Projects index page Next project

  • Chris Malarkey

    Chris MalarkeyFinance Officer < Return to team Chris Malarkey Finance Officer Chris joined DHI as Finance Officer and has responsibility for the development, monitoring and reporting of the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre’s 5-year core budget. Prior to DHI, Chris worked for The Bumblebee Conservation Trust while studying for a Master’s Degree in Business and Administration. This helped spark his keen interest in all things accountancy and finance as he hopes to pursue a chartered accountancy qualification. He has contributed to several different areas within the DHI, including leading the financial management of a growing portfolio of additionally funded projects and the development and improvement of DHI’s financial process’ to ensure robust levels of governance and audit. Chris has a keen interest in psychology and music with his honours Degree in Audio Engineering and background volunteering in educational environments and music charities. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

  • City of Glasgow College | Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre

    City of Glasgow College is Scotland’s largest technological and professional skills college. Its award-winning twin-site super campus in the heart of Glasgow offers outstanding resources and opportunities for students to gain essential skills for their future careers. Innovative approaches to teaching and learning enable personalised development across a range of subjects on campus and online. Up to 8,000 graduates leave the college each year ready for the world of work. The Scottish branch of the Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (Scottish IKE) is based at City of Glasgow College. Since its inception in 2017, Scottish IKE has been a key asset in developing innovation at City, through the initiation, development and delivery of partnership-led innovation and applied research projects. Visit Partner's website Previous Item Next Item

  • dressCode | Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre

    DressCode is a non-profit organisation dedicated to closing the gender gap in Computing Science by inspiring and empowering girls through school clubs, online competitions, and industry engagement. Its mission is to bridge the gap between education and the tech industry, helping to build a more diverse and inclusive tech talent pipeline Visit Partner's website Previous Item Next Item

  • Design-led approach to co-production of values for collective decision-making

    Experience Labs are design-led spaces for co-creating preferable futures by bringing academic, business, and civic stakeholders to work together with citizens using a participatory design approach. Differing value systems of stakeholders, however, can pose challenges when working collaboratively. Experience Labs support exchange and co-production of values among diverse stakeholders by making them articulate and visible through design, to resolve conflict and to support meaningful decision-making towards progressing ideas whilst integrating a multiplicity of perspectives. In this paper, we discuss the creation of an ‘ethical imagination space’ to explore preferable futures with diverse stakeholders; the core values of the Experience Labs which support the creation of this space; and the key qualities that support the exchange and co-production of shared values to enable collective decision-making. We propose that the ‘next thinking’ for design involves consideration of the ways in which we engage with values in cross-sectoral collaborations to enable collective decision-making. < Return to resources Design-led approach to co-production of values for collective decision-making Raman, Sneha and French, Tara and Teal, Gemma Experience Labs are design-led spaces for co-creating preferable futures by bringing academic, business, and civic stakeholders to work together with citizens using a participatory design approach. Differing value systems of stakeholders, however, can pose challenges when working collaboratively. Experience Labs support exchange and co-production of values among diverse stakeholders by making them articulate and visible through design, to resolve conflict and to support meaningful decision-making towards progressing ideas whilst integrating a multiplicity of perspectives. In this paper, we discuss the creation of an ‘ethical imagination space’ to explore preferable futures with diverse stakeholders; the core values of the Experience Labs which support the creation of this space; and the key qualities that support the exchange and co-production of shared values to enable collective decision-making. We propose that the ‘next thinking’ for design involves consideration of the ways in which we engage with values in cross-sectoral collaborations to enable collective decision-making. View resource Previous item Next item

  • Rapid Review of Contact Tracing Methods for COVID-19

    This review examines methods for conducting "people-powered" contact tracing at scale, with a specific focus on digitally enhanced approaches. It covers a spectrum of methodologies, including traditional paper-based methods and advanced digital solutions such as mobile apps utilizing Bluetooth or geolocation services for anonymous tracing. Selected examples of these methods are highlighted for illustration. < Return to resources Rapid Review of Contact Tracing Methods for COVID-19 Rimpiläinen, Sanna This review examines methods for conducting "people-powered" contact tracing at scale, with a specific focus on digitally enhanced approaches. It covers a spectrum of methodologies, including traditional paper-based methods and advanced digital solutions such as mobile apps utilizing Bluetooth or geolocation services for anonymous tracing. Selected examples of these methods are highlighted for illustration. View resource Previous item Next item

  • Innovation in Diabetes: Ideas and Initiatives

    The reports cover a wide range of topics related to MyDiabetesMyWay (MDMW), including patient portals, e-learning hubs, communication tools, risk modeling for care planning, medication coaching, multimedia resources, diabetes education promotion, tele-pharmacy, medication understanding, personalized information delivery, physical activity promotion, remote foot ulcer management, diabetic foot screening technology, HbA1c testing, decision support for exercise, structured education, electronic health records uptake, teleclinics, diabetes simulation games, automated glucose data, inpatient care integration, innovative models of care, remote clinic consultations, and primary care outreach and education. < Return to resources Innovation in Diabetes: Ideas and Initiatives Wake, Deborah and Smith, Diane and Cumming, Grahame and Charlton, Jacqui and Macrury, Sandra and Cunningham, Scott and Williamson, Scott and Birnie, Steve and Ritchie, Stuart and Kennon, Brian and Shand, Hillary and Dodds, George and Phillip, Sam The reports cover a wide range of topics related to MyDiabetesMyWay (MDMW), including patient portals, e-learning hubs, communication tools, risk modeling for care planning, medication coaching, multimedia resources, diabetes education promotion, tele-pharmacy, medication understanding, personalized information delivery, physical activity promotion, remote foot ulcer management, diabetic foot screening technology, HbA1c testing, decision support for exercise, structured education, electronic health records uptake, teleclinics, diabetes simulation games, automated glucose data, inpatient care integration, innovative models of care, remote clinic consultations, and primary care outreach and education. View resource Previous item Next item

  • FutureScot | Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre

    is Scotland’s premier independent media platform and events organizer dedicated to the digital transformation of the public sector, technology, and innovation. It connects government, local councils, the NHS, academia, and the broader tech industry. Visit Partner's website Previous Item Next Item

  • The language of pain: better requirements for pain tools

    We describe a co-design method for development of an assessment tool for chronic pain. Here, by taking a "research through design" approach, we visualized and shared various strands of our domain knowledge. From this, a common understanding of the relevant issues was seen to emerge, which in turn facilitated creativity among the group. Thereafter, a collective proposal for a pain assessment tool was formulated After outlining this proposal, we move on to argue that, based on our experience this method provides a useful platform for interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare technology development. < Return to resources The language of pain: better requirements for pain tools Jaatun, Ellen A.A., Dixon, Brian and Brooks, Elizabeth We describe a co-design method for development of an assessment tool for chronic pain. Here, by taking a "research through design" approach, we visualized and shared various strands of our domain knowledge. From this, a common understanding of the relevant issues was seen to emerge, which in turn facilitated creativity among the group. Thereafter, a collective proposal for a pain assessment tool was formulated After outlining this proposal, we move on to argue that, based on our experience this method provides a useful platform for interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare technology development. View resource Previous item Next item

  • The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) | Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre

    The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) was established in 2013 and is a key enabler and catalyst for change, occupying a unique and visible position at the heart of the innovation ecosystem for digital health and social care in Scotland. A world-leading collaboration between the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow School of Art, publicly funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the Scottish Government. We are a not-for-profit organisation. Our expertise and influence allow us to play a pivotal role in building a fairer, inclusive, accessible, and equitable health and social care system by harnessing the power of Scotland’s public, private, and third/ charity sectors. Visit Partner's website Previous Item Next Item

  • FUTUREquipped SMART Housing Unit Descriptor for 'Understanding SMART Homes from a Construction, Information and Communication Technology, and Health and Care Perspective': SCQF Level 6. 

    This mirco learning unit aims to familiarise learners with the concept of SMART homes across three industry sectors: Construction, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Health and Care. By exploring emergent themes and innovations from these perspectives, learners will gain insight into the potential economic and societal benefits of SMART homes. The unit culminates in a cross-disciplinary project based on a SMART home case study, supported by Meta skills units to develop necessary skills for the final outcome. < Return to resources FUTUREquipped SMART Housing Unit Descriptor for 'Understanding SMART Homes from a Construction, Information and Communication Technology, and Health and Care Perspective': SCQF Level 6. Gale, Lewis This mirco learning unit aims to familiarise learners with the concept of SMART homes across three industry sectors: Construction, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Health and Care. By exploring emergent themes and innovations from these perspectives, learners will gain insight into the potential economic and societal benefits of SMART homes. The unit culminates in a cross-disciplinary project based on a SMART home case study, supported by Meta skills units to develop necessary skills for the final outcome. View resource Previous item Next item

  • Forth Valley Dermatology AI

    DHI conducted co-design workshops to help NHS Forth Valley develop an AI-supported dermatology service. These workshops produced an analysis of the current state and a proposed AI solution for dermatology. The project report was well-received, and NHS Forth Valley is considering the next steps. < Return to projects Forth Valley Dermatology AI Project impact AI Innovation: DHI's co-design workshops with NHS Forth Valley resulted in a proposed AI-supported dermatology solution, which is now under consideration for implementation Impactful Collaboration: The project produced a detailed analysis of current dermatology practices and potential AI applications, with the final report receiving positive feedback from NHS Forth Valley DHI conducted co-design workshops to help NHS Forth Valley develop an AI-supported dermatology service. These workshops produced an analysis of the current state and a proposed AI solution for dermatology. The project report was well-received, and NHS Forth Valley is considering the next steps. DHI delivered a series of co-design workshops to support NHS Forth Valley in designing their preferred future AI-supported dermatology service. DHI carried out participatory design workshops to produce the following two key outputs: An understanding of what is currently being done for two scenarios including opportunities and challenges i.e. a ‘current state.’ A preferred solution for applying AI technologies in each scenario. The project report was delivered to NHS Forth Valley and was well-received. NHS Forth Valley is reflecting on the outcomes and will contact DHI regarding the next steps in due course. This project closed in December 2021. Summary Impact & value Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Previous project Projects index page Next project

  • Mohammed Al Qaraghuli

    Mohammed Al QaraghuliHead of PMO < Return to team Mohammed Al Qaraghuli Head of PMO Mohammed is a pharmacist with an M.Sc. in Drug Development with Bio-Business (Distinction) and a Doctorate in Antibody Engineering from the University of Aberdeen, followed by an Executive MBA. He has worked across biotech and pharmaceutical organisations, including ImmunoSolv, Scotia Biologics, and National Pharmaceutical Industries. Mohammed is also the founder of SiMologics, a University of Strathclyde-based biotech start-up. Following postdoctoral work at the University of Aberdeen, he joined the University of Strathclyde in 2016, supporting academic-industry collaborations as a researcher and impact champion. In 2021, he joined CMAC as Project and Industrial Translation Manager for the £5m UKRI Made Smarter Innovation programme, the Digital Medicines Manufacturing Research Centre (DM²), leading the delivery across three universities and a consortium of 30+ pharma and technology partners to accelerate adoption of digital technologies in medicines manufacturing. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

  • Covid-19 related projects

    Using the 3 Cs to create digital solutions to the Covid-19 challenge < Return to projects Covid-19 related projects Project impact Rapid Covid-19 Response through Innovation: DHI quickly developed digital tools supporting Scotland’s health and social care needs, benefiting patients and frontline staff. Strengthening Sector Collaboration: DHI partnered with NHS, government, and SMEs to co-design critical Covid-19 tools, enhancing Scotland's response capabilities. Setting New Standards in Digital Health: DHI’s Covid-19 projects, like the National Notification Service, streamlined processes, delivering rapid, impactful solutions for Scotland’s health sector. Using the 3 Cs to create digital solutions to the Covid-19 challenge The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) was commissioned, and continues to be actively involved, in supporting the Scottish Government’s national response to the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic from the first week in March 2020. We have onboarded six new Covid-19 projects over the last five months, which has resulted in DHI re-prioritising our work program and reallocating staff resources to accelerate our pace of working. Our whole team has risen to these challenges and have produced high quality products that are being deployed into a live service, supporting the population of Scotland (patients, service users as well as health and social care staff) at this critical point. We have established close working relations with all key partners across Scotland, particularly the Digital Directorate, NHS Scotland Digital, NES and TEC functions as well as national and territorial health boards, the Digital Office for Local Government and key third sector and independent sector organisations. Several academic and industry partners have also been engaged to support this work. This includes several Scottish SMEs including Storm ID, Sitekit, Daysix, Tactuum and Cohesion along with Scottish Enterprise. The DHI team worked virtually and used a variety of interactive, online tools to collaborate and co-design, develop and define solutions and services, collaboratively with stakeholders. Frequently involving up to 30 participants, project workshops were organised and facilitated with technologists, clinicians, designers, NHS staff and representatives from the Government to gather experience-based insight, document requirements and plan for wider integration. Following the success of this new type of working, we plan on integrating elements of it into all future projects to help fastrack innovation ideation into delivery. Summary The National Notification Service has changed the way Scottish health boards view and communicate test results, relieving the front line of the burden of administrating thousands of test results so that they could focused on higher impact health protection duties The Simple Tracing Tools equipped all 14 Scottish health boards with the digital means to capture contact tracing data during peak Covid-19. 733 clinical users were onboarded and they traced 1618 index cases and their contacts over a 2 month period at peak – this allowed Scotland to leave full lockdown earlier The Clinical Assessment Tool has been used for over three thousand assessments of patients in the Glasgow area. It has fed early intelligence into surveillance systems to help identify outbreaks earlier. This is currently being scaled up to other boards in Scotland The Covid Community Co-management tools have been developed and user research completed – with the Scottish population demonstrating their support for a more active digital role in contact tracing. This tool is due to go live later in the autumn in 2020 and will help with the expected increase in Covid-19 cases over the winter period Impact & value Progress to date Next steps Covid-19 Projects The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) was commissioned and remains actively engaged in supporting the Scottish Government’s national response to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic through various related projects View Projects Partners Project staff Resources Global Examples of COVID-19 Surveillance Technologies Flash Report Rapid Review of Contact Tracing Methods for COVID-19 Using Innovation to Develop Digital Tools for Public Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Emerging Trends in Digital Health and Care: A Refresh Post-COVID Emerging Trends in Digital Health and Care: A Refresh Post-COVID (booklet) Previous project Projects index page Next project

  • Jennifer Thomas

    Jennifer ThomasSkills and Project Manager < Return to team Jennifer Thomas Skills and Project Manager Jennifer is responsible for managing a programme of work that produces innovative, additional educational opportunities in Moray for frontline health and care employees, and the specialist and technical staff working in digital health and care. She is a qualified Product Design Engineer and has worked on a broad range of social and economic development projects throughout her career. Prior to joining DHI in 2019, she successfully managed and delivered several large-scale health and social care research projects for the Scottish Government, NHE Education Scotland and Skills Development Scotland. She also brings a well-developed knowledge and understanding of the skills landscape in Scotland. Since 2014, Jennifer has managed a range of industry skills studies and contributed research and analysis work to several skills programmes. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

  • My Cancer MAI Care

    Macmillan Cancer Support commissioned DHI and Abertay University to develop a visual tool using gaming theory and AI to identify support needs of People Affected by Cancer (PABC). The tool analyses characteristics and similar cases to offer personalised care and resource planning, with interfaces for patients and health professionals. < Return to projects My Cancer MAI Care Project impact AI driven decision support for people living with cancer Participatory design methodologies were used to understand and define the needs of stakeholders Helps professionals to make care decisions informed by information generated by service use data analysis. Macmillan Cancer Support commissioned DHI and Abertay University to develop a visual tool using gaming theory and AI to identify support needs of People Affected by Cancer (PABC). The tool analyses characteristics and similar cases to offer personalised care and resource planning, with interfaces for patients and health professionals. Cancer care in the UK faces critical challenges, including an ageing population and limited resources, demanding greater efficiency and improved care through technology. Macmillan Cancer Support has access to large datasets that can be used to drive evidence-based decisions, but their scale and complexity challenge traditional analysis methods. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) provide cost-effective tools to unlock the value of such data, supporting professionals in improving outcomes for persons affected by cancer (PABC). When combined with immersive user experience (UX) tools, like gaming technology, AI’s potential is significantly increased. Identifying the most impactful areas for these technologies requires an understanding and definition of specific cancer care pathways. Engaging users ensures that service needs dictate technology use, not vice versa. By embracing AI and user-driven innovation, cancer care in the UK can significantly improve efficiency and outcomes. Summary For health and social care professionals: AI can support planning and rapid decision making, helping professionals to make care decisions informed by information generated by service use data analysis. This could occur through intelligent summarisation of datasets and interactive visualization of complex information. For PABC: AI systems hold the promise of enabling PABC to self-manage more effectively by placing powerful and trusted automated agents at their disposal. However, PABC might find it difficult to engage with these complex tools. As a result, advances need to be made not just in the deployment of AI for PABC but in the user-friendliness and security of these systems. Impact & value The primary goal of this project was to provide Health and Care professionals, particularly link workers, with accessible data to enable consistent support services. A critical focus was on the visualisation component, which was thoroughly tested by potential end users. As a result, the project developed and evaluated an interactive and dynamic information visualisation tool designed to present association rule-mined data effectively. Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Kang, K. L., Hastings, A., Hughes, A. D., Myszkowska, K., Greer, M., Preston, J., McIntyre, D., Hughes, J., Mackenzie, K., Bown, J., & Falconer, R. (2025). Creating informative experiences through a visual and interactive representation of health and social care data. Information Visualization, 0(0). Previous project Projects index page Next project

  • Living Lab 2C: Prevent Progress of Diabetes App

    This project designed and evaluated a Diabetes Prevention Information App as part of a scalable, digitally enabled service model integrated into primary care to support individuals at risk of Type 2 diabetes. < Return to projects Living Lab 2C: Prevent Progress of Diabetes App Project impact The intervention significantly improved users’ knowledge, confidence, and motivation to adopt healthier lifestyle behaviours, with 94% reporting increased knowledge and 88% reporting improved confidence. A blended model combining digital tools with brief professional (dietitian) support enhanced engagement and enabled more effective access to preventative services. The project demonstrated a scalable, cost-effective approach to diabetes prevention that can reduce demand on healthcare services while improving population-level health outcomes. This project designed and evaluated a Diabetes Prevention Information App as part of a scalable, digitally enabled service model integrated into primary care to support individuals at risk of Type 2 diabetes. This project developed and tested a diabetes prevention app integrated into primary care, using a person-centred model tailored to individuals’ digital confidence. An 8-week pilot with high-risk patients showed strong engagement, improved knowledge, and increased motivation for lifestyle change, with many participants making or planning healthier behaviour changes. Summary This project demonstrates a scalable, cost-effective digital approach to diabetes prevention that can be delivered within existing NHS infrastructure. By supporting early intervention and self-management, it has the potential to reduce long-term demand on healthcare services. The model provides an equitable and flexible approach, accommodating different levels of digital literacy, while enhancing patient engagement and service uptake through the integration of digital tools with professional support. Impact & value The app content was co-designed through a series of workshops and developed on the Right Decision Service platform. A pilot was then implemented within a GP practice in Moray, targeting patients identified as being at high risk of developing diabetes. An eight-week evaluation demonstrated strong engagement, with 63% of participants actively using the app and 92% rating it as easy to use. Positive behavioural outcomes were also observed, with most participants reporting lifestyle changes or intentions to make changes. The integration of professional support was successfully tested, with 79% of participants taking up dietitian support. Building on these encouraging findings, the next phase will focus on scaling the approach across NHS settings, enhancing app functionality, and expanding evaluation to larger and more diverse populations. Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Developing a Digitally Enabled Universal Service Model to Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk Previous project Projects index page Next project

  • Stephanie Crowe

    Stephanie CroweResearch Fellow < Return to team Stephanie Crowe Research Fellow Stephanie is a design researcher working at the intersection of health, care, and wellbeing. She uses participatory and design-led methods to explore how emerging technologies can enhance autonomy, connection, and meaningful participation in health and care. Her work bridges research, practice, and innovation by co-designing with clinicians, researchers, and communities, and applying design to understand complex challenges and shape inclusive, evidence-informed approaches. Stephanie holds an MSc in Psychology and is completing a PhD in Product Design, where her research includes exploring virtual reality in brain injury rehabilitation. She also has industry experience as a consultant and design studio founder. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

  • The Right Decision Support Service (RDS)

    The Right Decision Service (RDS) is Scotland’s national decision support service for health and social care. Funded by the Scottish Government and owned by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, RDS provides digital tools for safe, timely healthcare decisions based on validated evidence and patient-centred outcomes. < Return to projects The Right Decision Support Service (RDS) Project impact Over 180 web and mobile decision support tools 1,777,077 unique users registered; 10.4 million page views in 2023 alone In 2023, 93% saw an impact on evidence informed practice The Right Decision Service (RDS) is Scotland’s national decision support service for health and social care. Funded by the Scottish Government and owned by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, RDS provides digital tools for safe, timely healthcare decisions based on validated evidence and patient-centred outcomes. The Right Decision Service (RDS) is the national decision support service for Scotland’s health and social care. It was endorsed and funded by the Scottish Government as the platform for delivery of the national decision support programme. The RDS was significantly developed at DHI over a number of years. It secured funding from the Scottish Government to develop a platform to support decision-support products and the development of new products to support clinical services across the country. Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) took on the national ownership role for the Right Decision Service in 2023. The mission of the RDS is to be the Once for Scotland source of digital tools which enable staff to make safe, timely decisions ‘on the go,’ based on validated evidence and outcomes that matter to people. The RDS is a change agent for the delivery of value-based health and care. It brings together evidence from: validated research, practice experience, and the lived experiences of patients and service users, embedding this evidence in decision-ready formats through RDS tools such as web and mobile apps and electronic care records. Summary Adoption at scale as a business-as-usual service: the RDS is embedded as a core enabler of health and care delivery in the majority of Scottish NHS Boards and a growing number of health and social care partnerships. This embedding in mainstream service delivery is now consolidated through the transition of RDS from its innovation phase in DHI to HIS as a mainstream business-as-usual service. Growing impact in the form of savings in time and resources, improved safety and quality of care, workforce skills and improved processes. These are underpinned by widespread usage across sectors and strong policy mandates for national delivery. Scottish Government Digital Health and Care noted that this “is the first example of a digital health and care programme that has been trialled and piloted with our partners, through to mainstream delivery led by a national NHS Board, and highlights the success of our collaborative approach.” 12 of the 14 territorial boards, 6 health and social care partnerships, 4 national NHS Boards, 3 national social care organisations, 8 national programmes and 3 third sector organisations are using the RDS to deliver decision support tools that support their priorities. Impact & value The RDS continues to be developed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). At the point RDS was transferred to HIS, it had progressed hugely. The Right Decision Service received official recognition in the form of the 2022 Digital Public Services Award. This award is granted in collaboration by Holyrood Communications, Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, for a digital public sector innovation that has delivered measurable impact in the past year. RDS has helped to release practitioner time and the optimal use of resource. In a survey of 36 RDS implementation leads across 12 organisations conducted in January 2023, .77% confirmed that RDS tools are enabling better use of available resource. .64% report that RDS tools are saving staff time 62% state that RDS tools have reduced costs. “Streamlining access to guidance and evidence-based decision support so that it is instantly accessible when and where clinicians need it.” RDS has also led to improved safety and quality of care: 79% of RDS implementation leads indicate that RDS tools are already improving patient safety in their organisations. 74% advise that RDS tools have improved quality of patient care, and 65% indicate that they are driving up consistent evidence-based practice. This work is being taken forward by Healthcare Improvement Scotland Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Right Decision Service website How does decision support work? Decision support for chronic pain management Decision support for co-morbidities and polypharmacy Diabetes with hypertension: decision support for self-management and stratifying risk, based on citizen-generated and clinical data Previous project Projects index page Next project

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