The Digital Health Unplugged podcast welcomed an array of guests from across the sector for your listening pleasure in 2024, including many members of the Digital Health Networks.
Unplugged host Jordan Sollof, news reporter at Digital Health, interviewed guests on topics ranging from community nursing in the digital age to implementing electronic patient records (EPRs).
The podcast also welcomed speakers addressing issues such as the difficulties faced by suppliers selling to the NHS, diversity in digital health, navigating career paths and what judges look for in startups taking part in the Rewired Pitchfest competition.
Looking back over the year, Digital Health News has selected the top five episodes that received the most downloads and overall engagement. Here’s what made the list:
5. Community nursing – nursing in the digital age
At number five is an episode that was a continuation of a Rewired 2024 session ‘Community nursing – nursing in the digital age’.
The session at Rewired explored how digital is being approached from different areas of the community, including adult social care, GP, district nursing and primary care.
The trio of guests discussed the benefits of digital nursing networks, and each gave their take on what is next in terms of leading and driving change in community nursing.
Guests:
Helen Crowther, national digital primary care nurse lead, Digital Primary Care and CNIO Office at NHS England
Ynez Symonds, chief nursing information officer (CNIO) at Solent NHS Trust
Ian Bailey, senior clinical director at EMIS and district nurse and Queen’s nurse
4. The Shuri Network continues to shine
The first episode of 2024 saw Shuri Network members Tolu Awe and Felicia Akubue highlight the benefits of being part of the bursary programme and the insights gained at Digital Health Summer Schools 2023.
The pair discussed how being part of the Shuri Network bursary programme and attending Summer Schools last year impacted their professional development and career advancement in the digital health sector.
They also picked out their best bits from Summer Schools in Birmingham and explained why they would recommend the opportunity to be on the bursary programme to other aspiring digital leaders within the Shuri Network or similar communities.
Guests:
Tolu Awe, delivery manager at NHS England
Felicia Akubue, scrub nurse and group CQC compliance officer at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
3. Navigating career paths in NHS leadership
The third most listened to episode of the year explored the dynamic landscape of career development in digital health.
The panellists shared valuable insights and guidance from their own experience for aspiring digital leaders and gave their thoughts on how to navigate opportunities and advancement in digital careers, how to unlock your potential through training, and the power of networking.
They then shared some success stories of individuals who have risen to leadership positions in NHS digital roles, before giving their thoughts on the Digital Workforce Strategy.
Guests:
Dr Shera Chok, non-executive director at London Ambulance Service NHS Trust and co-founder and chair of The Shuri Network
Ben Jeeves, associate CCIO at Midlands Partnership NHS FT and Digital Health Network CCIO Advisory Panel member
Portia Eze, operational planning analyst at King’s College Hospital NHS FT and member of cohort one of Future Digital Leaders group
Andrew Griffiths, chief executive of FedIP
2. The role of effective teams in deploying digital platforms in the NHS
At number two is the opening episode of the Digital Health Networks series looking at the role of effective teams in deploying digital platforms in the NHS, with a particular focus on AI.
The panellists explored the pivotal role of cohesive teams in successfully implementing digital platforms, focussing on AI applications within the NHS, and delved into the synergies between teamwork and the deployment of cutting-edge technology.
They then discussed the importance of collaboration, skill diversity and efficient communication in maximising the benefits for AI for healthcare innovation and patient outcomes before highlighting common challenges in implementing digital platforms in the NHS, such as resistance to change.
Lastly, each guest highlighted how they envision the evolution of interdisciplinary collaboration and the deployment of digital platforms within the NHS.
Guests:
Dr Lia Ali, consultant psychiatrist, NHS England transformation directorate clinical advisor and Digital Health CCIO Network Advisory Panel member
Simon Noel, CNIO at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and chair of the Digital Health Network CNIO Advisory Panel
Nick Black, chief digital information officer at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust and Digital Health CIO Network Advisory Panel member
1. The alternative approach to EPR implementation
And finally, taking the crown as the most listened to Digital Health Unplugged episode of 2024 features Mark Hutchinson, vice-president of healthcare strategy and transformation at Altera Digital Health, talking all things EPRs.
Hutchinson discussed the traditional ‘big bang’ approach to EPR deployment before explaining how Altera, a Digital Health Networks sponsor, offers a different way of implementing the system in a modular approach.
He then gave his take on whether we will fulfil the national EPR mandate before giving his holistic view of the current UK EPR market and whether it will be dominated by the big players or expand to welcome an even bigger pool of suppliers of varying sizes.
Lastly, Hutchinson gave some top tips for an organisation deploying or configuring their EPR system, having experienced multiple EPR implementations in the NHS, and what the future direction of EPRs is overall.
Guest:
Mark Hutchinson, vice-president of healthcare strategy and transformation at Altera Digital Health
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