Combining Leadership and patient Empowerment through intelligent data Access and Remote consultations

(CLEAR Consortium)

CLEAR is aiming to revolutionise the way in which primary care services are delivered internationally in developed and developing countries by developing and integrating, pioneering ICT (Information and communications technology) solutions with a view to generating greater patient healthcare outcomes. CLEAR aims to revolutionise the delivery of primary healthcare services. We define a number of core objectives which will ensure the realisation of this aim. 

1)     Barriers to healthcare

The current model of primary care presents barriers to access and use on a number of levels, logistically, chronologically, socially and financially. The first objective of CLEAR seeks to remove these barriers by offering a new model of care which is convenient to use and will help to inform, empower and provide equitable access to primary care to all (Huxley et al., 2015, Hjelm, 2005, Carter et al., 2018).

2)     Empowerment and self-efficacy

The concurrent access to a data rich portal by both the healthcare professional and patient will facilitate co-creation of ‘shared care’ style healthcare management plans (Hjelm, 2005). Ultimately the overarching goal is improved health outcomes for patients. Engendering empowerment and self-efficacy will serve to motivate patients and maintain engagement with the care plan thereby optimising health outcomes (Choi et al., 2014). 

3)     Data linkage and semantic interoperability and transparent data provenance:

Contemporary pervasive environments generate significant amounts of rich data which is heretofore being lost or under-utilised (Andreu-Perez et al., 2015). CLEAR will provide a solution to harness this rich data, addressing the challenges of data linkage and semantic interoperability and transparent data provenance. The quality of the information created from the data relies on the data quality and so CLEAR will provide a novel data quality framework which will be reliable, traceable and intuitive for all data consumers to use and interpret.

4)     International first data quality framework

The impact of a quality, data-rich, patient-centred, collaborative healthcare solution will have many implications for healthcare on an organisational and national level. The intelligence garnered from the efficient harvesting of quality data will play a critical role in informing policy makers in regard to healthcare and increase efficiency and cost effectiveness in the sector (HIQA, 2018).  

5)     Pioneering dynamic user interface

Finally, the rapid evolution epidemiologically, in medicine and in technology, demands that any developed solution has the capacity to keep pace with and in parallel with these changes to ensure its continued relevance and applicability into the future. The visionary, ambitious objective of CLEAR amalgamates current scientific knowledge with future projections to lead the way to an entirely pioneering model of primary care. Through state-of-the art dynamic user interface and the incorporation of aspects of virtual technology, CLEAR will reach the previously unreachable and offer healthcare in a previously unimaginable way, thereby achieving previously inconceivable outcomes (Althoff et al., 2016, Anderson et al., 2010, Freeman et al., 2017).

References:

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  • CARTER, M., FLETCHER, E., SANSOM, A., WARREN, F. C. & CAMPBELL, J. L. 2018. Feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of an online alternative to face-to-face consultation in general practice: a mixed-methods study of webGP in six Devon practices. BMJ Open, 8, e018688.

  • CHOI, N. G., HEGEL, M. T., MARTI, C. N., MARINUCCI, M. L., SIRRIANNI, L. & BRUCE, M. L. 2014. Telehealth problem-solving therapy for depressed low-income homebound older adults. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22, 263-271.

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  • HIQA 2018. Guidance on a data quality framework for health and social care. Health Information and Quality Authority.

  • HJELM, N. 2005. Benefits and drawbacks of telemedicine. Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 11, 60-70.

  • HUXLEY, C. J., ATHERTON, H., WATKINS, J. A. & GRIFFITHS, F. 2015. Digital communication between clinician and patient and the impact on marginalised groups: a realist review in general practice. Br J Gen Pract, 65, e813-e821.