Specialist advice at the GP’s fingertips:an innovative app providing instant access to NHS Scotland
clinical pathways in dermatologyDr. Fiona MacDonald¹, Dr. Colin Morton², Dr. Sheena Fraser³, Dr. Alison Ram4, David Pratt, Anna Milsom
Referencesi Schofield, J.; Grindlay, D.; Williams, H./Skin conditions in the UK: a health care needs assessment. Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, 2009.ii British Association of Dermatologists, How can dermatology services meet current and future patient needs while ensuring that quality of care is not compromised and that access
is equitable across the UK?, 2014. Details available from: http://www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?id=2348&itemtype=document (accessed 13 February 2017).iii Dermatology Patient Pathways, NHS Scotland. 2011, 2005 Available from: http://www.pathways.scot.nhs.uk/dermatology.htm (accessed 13 February 2017).iv Google Analytics©, 2017, Google Inc. (“Google”), located at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States
AcknowledgementsDeveloped in partnership with ¹NHS Lanarkshire, ²NHS Forth Valley, ³NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, ⁴NHS Highland, Tactuum, Scottish Dermatological Society, APS Group Scotland
Website and Mobile App www.dermatology.nhs.scot
The Challenge• 15-20% of all GP referrals are
about skin conditions,i but dermatology training is not a compulsory part of medical education in the UK.ii
• Variation in dermatology knowledge across primary care has been reported.ii
MethodStep 1: Design • In 2016, the National Dermatology collaborative
brought primary and secondary care clinicians together to update existing dermatology clinical pathways.
Step 2: Development • Tactuum, a digital health services company based
in Glasgow, was commissioned to develop the mobile app and website based on the updated pathways.
Step 3: Testing • The draft versions of the website and app
were approved by the National Dermatology collaborative and then piloted in two GP surgeries.
Step 4: National Roll-out• The website and app went live in November 2016. • Four launch events were held in Edinburgh,
Glasgow, Aberdeen and Stirling aimed at primary care staff.
Step 5: Evaluation• The app has a feedback function and comments
are monitored and reviewed.• A survey of primary and secondary care
awareness and use was initiated in May 2017 and will report shortly.
OutcomesSince the app launched in November 2016…• It has been used by over 1,300 individual users to
view over 21,000 pagesiv.• Over 80% of users are return visitors. This suggests
that users find the app useful and keep using it.• The majority of users have been in Scotland, but users
from across the world have also downloaded the app.• Initial analysis suggests a need to further promote the
app across some board areas in Scotland.
Moving forward…• The British Association of Dermatologists is currently
reviewing the mobile app with a view to rolling it out across the UK.
• Other clinical specialities in Scotland are considering the potential for similar apps.
Conclusion• Positive feedback and usage
within Scotland and beyond suggests enthusiasm for using digital infrastructure, in the form of a mobile app, to facilitate access to high quality specialist dermatology advice.
• Interest from other specialties suggests the concept and methodology behind the app could be rolled out to other clinical areas.
How to Download the App• See the Website at: www.dermatology.nhs.scot
• For Google and Apple apps, search for “Dermatology Patient Pathways” in the app store.
ObjectivesDevelop a mobile app and websiteiii which: • has diagnosis and management
advice, including ‘red flags’• is user friendly and specifically
designed for GPs
Aim• To use digital technology to ensure GPs and primary
care professionals across Scotland have a quick and simple way to access high-quality specialist dermatology advice.
• To contribute to 2020 Vision of providing care closer to home, to the highest standards of quality and safety.
Fig 4: Return interest: pie chart of new and return users
Fig 1: Example of a new pathway page
Fig 2: The app displayed on a mobile phone
Contact: [email protected]
screenviews of the mobile app
clinical pathways17
21,328
clinicians from across primary and secondary care57
Clear and easy to follow(Feedback left on website)
Good concise app… well done!(GP, North Scotland)
Great app!(GP, Aberdeenshire)
This is a fantastic idea! Overall impressions are very positive…(GP, East Scotland) Very slick app
(GP, West of Scotland)
New users
19.8%
Returning users
80.2%
users of website app1,306
Fig 3: Global interest (map of users as per Google Analytics at April 2017iv)
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