Aiming to provide confidence and reduction of regulatory burden in the workplace, a new report writing and decision making tool has been introduced to improve health and social care provision.
The one-of-a-kind device has been launched by Desuto, a leader in health and social care decision-support. Designed for those in charge of making difficult choices in relation to those most vulnerable in society, the tool aims to provide crucial decision support in relation to the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and ensure compliance with standards of law and best practice. It intends to revise the entire process and during its trial phase in the NHS and care home sector has already generated over 10,000 reports.
Desuto has stated the tool will be made accessible to all professionals within the health and social care sector, following the trial’s success.
The MCA is adhered to by local authorities and NHS bodies across England. According to Care England however, this has led to over-reliance on formal classroom-based training which has created a barrier to implementation of the MCA legislation in practice. In order for professionals to choose the best course of action, Desuto’s tool aims to assist where complex decisions regarding a person’s capacity are concerned, as well as highlighting their level of mental capacity. Important choices regarding best interest are simplified, thus alleviating the deprivation of liberty risk for those involved. The guidance that the tool provides is said to be very accurate and seeks to ensure peace of mind for professionals.
An automatic report system is also included, increasing efficiency by producing a professionally written and detailed report in a fraction of the time taken to write one by hand. As a result, human error is reduced as well as care delivery being increased as professional’s time is freed up. Charts are also produced by the tool’s auditing capabilities, which show how the device has been used, as well as the types of decisions staff have made. The technology is also compatible with mobile devices, enabling it to be used from any location, 24 hours a day.
Commenting on the development of the new technology was Mike Hostick. The CEO of Desuto highlighted the new-found confidence that the tool aims to provide users with: “The Desuto team is made up of medical, nursing and therapy practitioners from the fields of health and social care that understand the needs of patients and professionals. This has allowed us to develop an intelligent solution that is aimed at the services providing care to individuals with conditions such as learning disabilities, dementia or mental health problems. It ensures that the correct decisions are made and provides users with the confidence that they will be able to apply the guidance in real life situations.”
Hostick also emphasised the underpinning values in the care sector which the tool aims to ensure: “Desuto developed the technology as a result of becoming more and more aware that many people within the care profession, who are often under great time pressure, were struggling to understand or apply MCA. There’s been overwhelming demand in the market for the tool with 10,000 reports generated during the trial. We are confident that the Desuto decision support tool will empower health and social care organisations across the UK to make appropriate and timely decisions on behalf of their patients or clients. Our primary goal is to ensure that the technology allows care teams to provide care based on values of fairness, respect, equality and dignity.”
