TPP support for NHS Flu Vaccination programme 2020/21
As the NHS prepares for the 2020/2021 winter flu vaccination programme, TPP is pleased to offer extensive SystmOne functionality to support clinicians in the field. The programme will seek to protect those most at risk of both winter flu and coronavirus (COVID-19), preventing ill-health and minimising further impacts on the UK’s health and social care system. This effort is of particular significance this winter, as healthcare providers work to prevent the widespread co-circulation of winter flu and COVID-19.
This year, the winter flu vaccination will be made available to a wider cohort, as well as all those employed in the health and social care sector. Clinicians can use SystmOne’s advanced reporting functionality to identify target patients most at risk of ill-health from the winter flu. This will involve pre-existing shielded patient lists, individual frailty scores, as well as more general co-morbidities and QOF requirements. Consideration will also be made of a potential recipient’s occupation where this is made available, as well as vaccination allergies.
SystmOne will allow for straightforward communication with patients, enabling healthcare professionals to send text messages or emails to those who are due to receive vaccinations. Clinicians can also take advantage of the Airmid app, through which notifications can be delivered directly to a patient’s phone.
One significant development is the wider use of barcodes to manage a practice’s vaccination schedule. Patients can be sent an invitation letter including a barcode which is then presented at the clinic, capturing their details and uploading them to SystmOne efficiently. Once again, patients will be able to use the Airmid app to present their barcode, reducing paper usage and saving administrative time.
Appointments can be booked and changed through both SystmOne and Airmid, meaning that any increased demand can be managed and practices are not overwhelmed. Once vaccinations have been given, data can be entered directly into the patient record, added in bulk via the appointment list. Alternatively, a list of the NHS numbers of those who have been vaccinated can be uploaded into SystmOne.
SystmOne interoperability supports receipt of structure messaging from pharmacies, providing updates to the Summary Care Record, as well as supporting linkage to EMIS and Cerner.
At what is a difficult time for healthcare professionals and patients across the country, TPP is proud to work in partnership with the NHS and other suppliers to assist preparations for the winter 2020/2021 vaccination programme.
Update:
TPP is working with NHS Digital to support the DHSC central vaccination record system. It is expected that all those receiving a flu vaccination will have their NHS number and date of birth transmitted to a central registry of those who should be receiving a flu vaccination, to monitor uptake. This work remains at design stage and should be entirely automatic.