Digital Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) has launched
Phase One of Digital Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) has launched in Community Musculoskeletal and Therapy Services, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Trauma & Orthopaedics.
Please note, there will be five additional phases following in sequence.
What is Digital PIFU?
Digital PIFU is a new approach that lets patients initiate their follow-up care through digital channels, reshaping how departments manage follow-ups. This digital pathway empowers patients to engage in their care proactively, fostering self-management, shared decision-making, and a better connection with clinicians.
Through digital PIFU, staff can view patient waitlists more effectively, enabling departments to open appointment slots and reduce bottlenecks. For our Trust, this means reduced administrative workload and cost savings.
How does this affect you?
The Healthcare Communication Portal for PIFU allows patients to activate their follow-up when their symptoms worsen, anytime and from anywhere. This response is reviewed by staff during working hours. The portal’s Accessible Information Standard (AIS) tool provides translation into over 100 languages, font size adjustments, content read-aloud, background colour options, and MP3 downloads for accessibility.
Patients who don’t opt for digital activation or in the case where it’s not suitable, will receive a PIFU letter within 3-5 days, providing them with necessary information and contact details following current processes.
Find out more about the registration process here.
Benefits of Digital PIFU
1. Patient Empowerment: By enabling patients to control their follow-up care based on their needs, this digital pathway supports a more personalized experience. Patients with unique health situations can avoid the constraints of a generalized schedule, leading to higher engagement, improved recovery, and better clinical outcomes.
2. Time Efficiency: PIFU reduces the need for unnecessary follow-ups, saving time for patients and clinicians. This allows patients to engage with the Trust more flexibly, reducing the logistical burden of in-person visits and benefiting staff schedules.
3. Reduced Backlog: By streamlining the follow-up process, PIFU helps reduce the NHS backlog, providing clinicians with additional time to be used for other appointments or projects.
4. Cost Savings: Digital PIFU could lead to substantial financial savings.
5. Sustainability: With fewer in-person hospital visits, PIFU may contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced hospital-related vehicle traffic.
6. Modernized Healthcare: Digital PIFU aligns with the NHS’s shift towards tech-enabled patient engagement, reflecting the public’s growing familiarity with digital health solutions.
