Scottish Borders HSCP Expands Partnership with Strata Health UK, Enabling a ‘Home-First’ Approach to Intermediate Care

Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) recently expanded Strata Health’s patient flow software to improve the patient discharge process out of Borders General Hospital into intermediate care services. 

Before implementing Strata Health, hospital staff were challenged with identifying the most appropriate route to discharge patients. 

Strata Health’s eReferral process guides care coordinators through the process of matching their patient against the access criteria of each intermediate care service.

A streamlined care management process supports clinicians to consider home as the default pathway out of the hospital.

Streamlined care management process supports clinicians to consider home as the default pathway out of the hospital.

Strata Health UK is pleased to announce that the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) recently expanded Strata Health’s patient flow software to improve the patient discharge process out of Borders General Hospital into intermediate care services.

Intermediate care services provide short-term support to help patients recover, increase independence, avoid hospital admission and facilitate a return home more quickly after a hospital stay. In the Scottish Borders, three broad service models of intermediate care are offered:

• Home First, where community-based services provide assessment and interventions to people in their own home or a care home.
• Garden View is a discharge to assess unit. It is available to help with the flow of patients through the hospital supporting the HSCP to deliver improved outcomes for patients and families. Patients are assessed for rehabilitation, on-going care and supported while they await to go home or have a placement in a residential care facility.
• Waverley is a transitional care unit where patients are admitted while they undertake a programme of rehabilitation.

Before implementing Strata Health, hospital staff were challenged with identifying the most appropriate route to discharge patients. Often resulting in delayed discharges and negative impacts on patient safety, quality of care, and health system utilisation and costs.

Offering real-time access to critical patient data and care options, Strata Health’s eReferral process guides care coordinators through the process of matching their patient against the access criteria of each intermediate care service. Ultimately, providing the decision-support tools needed to implement a ‘Home First’ approach, where going home with support is the default pathway.

“Imagine the spine in our bodies, connecting all parts and allowing us to function effectively, safely and with confidence!! Strata is the digital spine that links and integrates systems and health and social care services to achieve the best possible patient outcomes.”

– Mr. Phillip Lunts, General Manager Transformation/Strategic Planning Lead, NHS Borders

With this new deployment, Borders General Hospital now uses the Strata Health platform to manage referrals and transfers of patients into long-term care settings and intermediate care services.

About the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership

Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership formed in April 2015, bringing together the full range of community health and care services in the Scottish Borders. The partnership ensures that the NHS, Scottish Borders Council and voluntary and private care partners’ work as one to deliver integrated services which meet the needs of people living in the Borders. With a particular focus on helping all adults live well in the community or at home for as long as possible, NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council share equal responsibility for this work and continue to engage with people across the Borders to inform and shape future service delivery. For more information, visit www.scotborders.gov.uk/integration.

About Strata Health

With almost 20 years of experience in the health technology sector, Strata Health is the leading provider of intelligent, digital tools for resource allocation, patient transitions, and patient flow innovation across the care continuum. Strata Health supports healthcare clients on three continents, helping over 12 million patients worldwide get the care they need faster. Strata’s software solutions are improving the healthcare experience for patients, clinicians, and health jurisdictions around the world. For more information, visit www.stratahealth.com.