A web-based decision support system for sexual health in the United Kingdom

Issue: Sexual ill health costs the UK Government millions of Pounds every year, where there has been growing levels of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Increasing waiting times to access NHS Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) services has exacerbated the situation. In 2005, the Department of Health established a Public Service Agreement target requiring the percentage of patients attending GUM clinics who are offered an appointment to be seen within 48 hours of contacting a service to reach 100% by 2008.

 Methodology: A smart web-based Sexual Health Decision Support Suite called SHFirst has been designed and successfully implemented in five clinics and GP Practices in the Bradford and Airedale Area to meet the 48 hrs GUM Access Targets.

 Results: SHFirst Phase 1 consists of the four interconnected modules:

 1.      Telephone Contact Centre Module: To record/update basic or pseudo details of the caller  and symptoms, carry out a triage and determine the level of service required, offer the caller an appointment at all participating clinics within 48 hrs of the call, and record the caller choice and associated details.
2.      Reception Module: To manage patient arrivals with a new episode of care, planned and unplanned walk-ins, booked appointments, follow-ups, as well as store some clinical notes.
3.      Reporting Module: To compute twenty metrics required for audit purposes to meet the 48 hrs GUM Access Targets.
4.      Admin Module: To set up complex rotas based on appointments only, walk in, protected and reserved slots at the participating clinics.

 Lessons: SHFirst can readily provide:

1. Monitoring and performance management of the 48 GUM Access targets,
   
2. Accurate data on the demand for services and opportunities to improve capacity planning,
   
3. Rich data about the difficulties patients may have in accessing services,
   
4. Rich data set commensurate with the Common Sexual Health Data Set.