The NHS is using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify patients likely to become frequent users of emergency departments (EDs) across England so it can be proactive about their care and reduce demand on emergency services.
High Intensity Use (HIU) services have been rolled out to 125 EDs across England so far. These use AI-powered prediction software on routinely collected hospital data to identify the most regular attendees to EDs in their area.
These patients are then offered one-to-one coaching in their own homes to tackle the root cause of why they are visiting an ED.
Preventative care includes supporting patients with long-term conditions, like asthma or diabetes, and having a healthcare professional reach out to them to offer them personalised, preventative support and self-management techniques.
It has already helped reduce the number of frequent attendances by more than half in some parts of the country.
Over 360,000 patients attend EDs more than five times every year.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS England chief executive, said: ‘We know that a small proportion of the population are much more likely to use A&E or ambulance services, so it is important we give them the targeted support they need this winter before they get to the front door of an emergency service – this is much better for them but will also help to relieve pressure on the NHS.
‘Initiatives like using AI to spot those who may need extra support in the community help provide more personalised care and must be central to our 10 Year Health Plan.’
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recruited a dedicated keyworker to offer social, practical and emotional support to 20 high-use patients, which resulted in them halving their emergency department visits – down from 33 times per year.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust created a HIU service at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton to recognise people in crisis and improve the health outcomes of those who face the highest deprivation and health inequalities in their area.
The service, combining community outreach with a dedicated clinical lead, led to a significant improvement in the wellbeing of frequent attenders and a reduction in hospital attendance by almost three fifths (58%).
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust also established a HIU service and worked closely with over 400 of the most frequent attenders to EDs.
This included one service user who suffered from a serious condition and was regularly visiting the emergency department, sometimes as often as twice a week.
The HIU service helped him to access the correct support, deal with his housing issues and start looking for work again.
Since the HIU service involvement, he has not visited the emergency department or dialled 999 again, contributing to the Trust’s 58% reduction of A&E attendances from frequent attenders and a reduction in hospital admissions of 62%.
Health Minister Karin Smyth said the HIU services offered ‘a double win for getting vulnerable patients the right support and saving the precious time of busy A&E staff’.
In February, a clinical trial at Amsterdam UMC aimed to show that an AI algorithm could reduce the number of blood cultures taken in EDs worldwide by almost a third.
A version of this article was originally published by our sister publication Healthcare Leader.
