SOLIHULL is set to become the first borough in the country to pilot a new way of managing health and social care for the elderly.
Leaders of the four organisations behind Integrated Care and Support Solihull (ICASS) have signed a 12 month pilot scheme agreement with leading population health company, Caradigm, to pilot a new way of working across health and social care.
The aim of the scheme, which is the first of its kind in the UK, is to use IT to help existing health and social care teams in Solihull work together more effectively to provide joined up health and social care for the borough’s ageing population – in particular those who are frail or living with dementia.
Through sharing information, ICASS hope elderly residents will only have to ‘tell their story once’ and will feel like their care is being provided by one team.
Speaking on behalf of ICASS leaders, Dr Patrick Brooke, Accountable Officer for Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, explained that while there are already some ‘great examples’ of health and social care teams working together in Solihull, this latest agreement was particularly significant.
He added: “Through this new agreement with Caradigm we will be able to build on those existing ways of working to ensure everyone involved in a person’s care has access to the right information at the right time.
“This is another way of making sure that we put people’s needs at the centre of our health and care system.”
Richard Craven, Vice President and Managing Director for Caradigm EMEA, said that the borough had recognised the need to use IT as an enabler to help its services achieve greater integrated care.
He added: “By automating workflow and co-ordinating care across all stakeholders, not only will the day-to-day patient experience improve, but the whole Solihull care system will also gain valuable efficiencies.
“We are extremely impressed at the level of commitment shown by Solihull and are proud to be involved in its vision to transform the way population health is managed.”
Established last year, ICASS is a five-year programme that has brought together leaders from Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council to improve the experience of elderly Silhillians – enabling them where possible to be cared for at home and aiming to reduce unnecessary spells in hospital.
