Competency 6 - Prioritising investment to meet local needs within the values of the NHS
Knowledge Management has a crucial role to play in achieving the standards outlined in this Competency. By having a clear understanding of the needs of different sections of the local population, PCTs, with their partners, will be able to set strategic priorities and make investment decisions, focused on the achievement of key clinical and other outcomes. This will include investment plans that address areas of greatest health inequality.
You can read more about this Competency, including the key information-related inputs and outputs required to meet this Competency here: Competency 6 - Knowledge Management Summary.
There are two areas of this Competency where Knowledge Management has particular relevance:
- Predictive modelling and skills and insights
- Prioritisation of investment to improve populations health
Below you will find summaries of how Knowledge Management can support your development in each of these areas, along with a choice of resources which we feel may help.
PREDICTIVE MODELLING SKILLS AND INSIGHTS
KM is particularly relevant to this section of the Competency. At a minimum, PCTs must demonstrate simple analysis (i.e. best and worst case scenarios) across a range of analytical areas, and have adopted predictive modelling by disease area.
To reach Level 4, PCT staff must be conversant with all predictive models, and use predictive modelling based on an understanding of all relevant root causes to support precise targeted interventions.
For a list of resources relating to this area, including a summary of the documents and rating, click here.
PRIORITISATION OF INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE POPULATION’S HEALTH
Prioritising investment accurately and effectively is the goal of this section of the Competency, and effective knowledge management strategies will be extremely helpful in achieving these standards.
PCTs can better identify the segments of the population that need care the most and prioritise its investments accordingly, via the use of risk stratification tools like PARR++ or equivalent tools that are available in the market (provided by some of the FESC vendors). These tools use proven statistical and analytical methods to stratify the population and also predict which patients that currently suffer from chronic conditions may be tending towards more acute episodes that may require hospital care. The PCT can then institute programs that help manage these patients with chronic conditions.
It may be worth considering creating a data warehouse as outlined in Competency 4 and then using a tool like PARR++ or a similar commercially available to tool to identify the population that is at the highest risk and then prioritise investments accordingly.
At a minimum, PCTs must have defined criteria for evaluating investment and embrace a wide variety of stakeholders when evaluating strategic initiatives. Investment proposals should also contain predicted improvements in health outcomes and reductions in health inequalities.
To reach Level 4, the PCT must have a full understanding of the returns on previous investments and, alongside wide consultation and comparison with best practice, use this information to inform future investment.
For a list of resources relating to this area, including a summary of the documents and rating, click here.
