PKB is being used by Sexual health teams in many areas across the UK. The teams have found the following workflows very effective.
Sexual health clinic PKB workflows
When Covid 19 hit in March 2020, the team had to cease all walk-in appointments as quickly as possible. Still wanting to be able to deliver the services to their patients and needing to replace all their face-to-face appointments with a virtual alternative, they came up with a new way to use PKB which has worked so well for both patients and the team they haven't return to their old way.
Delivering care through PKB using the secure messaging functionality, gives patients and the team the ability to deliver care virtually through their personal health record.
Patients send secure messages to professionals including images
Images do not have to be stored on local system to be shared with the clinical team
Removed apprehension about sharing images on a digital platform
Explanation given by professionals on how to send messages within PKB
Care delivered through PKB, no face to face appointments needed
Full instructions on how to send a photo through PKB secure messaging function can be found on the PKB manual here
Workflow
When a patient contacts the team through PKB, the professional reply's to the patient with:
Standard instructions on how to send an image
Pre-meeting consultation for triage
Patient has a Sexual Health ID (not NHS) so other teams can’t see the Sexual health team
Care and treatment is delivered virtually with no face to face appointment needed
When a sexual health team is starting out or adding secure messaging to their patient pathways, its important to check the privacy labels are set as Sexual health to reflect sexual health systems.
Additional benefits to the patients
More convenience for patients who no longer have to take time off work or arrange childcare
No travel costs for patients
60% of patients in the satisfaction survey stated that they are happy to send photos securely via PKB
The ability to share their sexual health data discreetly and securely with the clinicians and health care professionals they choose
With patients and staff satisfaction high, the team will continue to build on their use of the platform to support patients to access sexual health service without stigma.
Photo messaging workflow are also useful for dermatology or post-operative.
Further information
Sexual health care plan templates: informed consent care plan and workflow diagram
Sexual health minor procedures: how PKB can be used in day clinics
Contraceptive pill checklist: workflow and care plan template example
Improving access to health service: a case study from a sexual health clinic using PKB