CPFT trials digital voice technology to help clinical teams
Our clinical teams are testing an innovation in NHS clinics to see if it can help health professionals automate clinical documentation and release more time to deliver improved patient care.
CPFT is evaluating how Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) or digital/artificial intelligence scribes can help our clinicians and support administration teams, with a three-month pilot of two AVT products approved by NHS England in services across our three clinical directorates.
AVT is a key part of the NHS 10 Year Plan to deliver the shift from analogue to digital to support more efficient care. It has been extensively piloted throughout the NHS and with GPs, however it is important to test how this technology could be best implemented in mental health and community settings working with different patient groups. This technology will be tested with CPFT’s community paediatric team in Peterborough, the First Response Service, Peterborough Adult Locality Team and Older People’s Mental Health team.
Cathy Walsh, Chief Medical Officer, said: “At CPFT we have been exploring how to make the best use of Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) to improve recording of clinical notes and free up clinical time. I am pleased that staff across all directorates have been supported by our innovation team to test this technology and gain wider insight, evidence and feedback to help us evaluate it. Thank you to all of the teams and project partners involved to bring this new technology to CPFT.”
The products are listed on the NHS England supplier registry and were chosen following a review of several AVT suppliers offering clinically-safe and secure systems designed by clinicians as medical devices to assist confidential record keeping and note taking. The systems do not retain or store data and are not used to train AI models. They are designed to accurately record consultations on command, listening and creating notes automatically. Patients in clinics will be informed beforehand and can always ask for the systems not to be used if they prefer.
Last year, the project team held sessions including demonstrations of the technology, with patient and public panels providing helpful feedback to shape the pilots.
One participant said: “I found the concept (of AVT) very promising with its ability to reduce administrative burdens and improve the timeliness of clinic letters.”
Dr Felix Clay, consultant psychiatrist in CPFT’s Older Peoples Mental Health services said: “I am looking forward to trialling AVT to explore how it might reduce administrative workload and improve clinical efficiency within our Older Peoples Mental Health clinics. This trial aims to improve workflow for both clinicians and admin colleagues, ensuring we can dedicate more time and presence to providing compassionate, high-quality support to our service users.”
Health Innovation East is delivering an independent evaluation of the pilot at CPFT, assessing AVT's impact on workload, documentation, patient consultations and how acceptable AVT is to clinicians within CPFT. The evaluation is intended to inform future rollout, planning and the most effective possible commissioning of AVT at the Trust.
CPFT's Chief Clinical Information Officer Dr Omer Moghraby said: “This is an important step in supporting our clinicians delivering great care. I am excited for how we learn from this trial and roll out the technology to more of our services to maximise the gain in improved and more efficient workflow.”
CPFT’s Clinical Innovation team works with staff, patients, industry and innovation partners to support the development and implementation of new approaches to improve clinical practice. Anyone with an innovative idea or solution to help healthcare staff and patients can get in touch through the enquiry form on the Clinical Innovation webpage.