Physio Helen Robson's career trajectory into the digital world could lead to 'rising star' status

Physiotherapist Helen Robson has been shortlisted in the ‘rising star’ category of the 2022 Dynamites IT and Tech Awards. The annual awards are in their ninth year and cover north east England, where Helen is based. Details of the winners in the rising star and 10 other categories will be announced at a ceremony at Newcastle Civic Centre on 10 November.

Helen’s employer, Connect Health, nominated her in recognition of her role in ‘leading, and delivering complex digital transformation projects whilst aligning all key organisational functions’.

‘Helen has been integral in two large projects, and over 94,195 patients nationally have completed the solutions she has been integral in designing in the last two years,’ the nomination states.

Helen, who successfully made the transition from having a ‘completely clinical background’ to an IT environment, is Connect Health’s clinical integration and transformation lead.

Tweet of surprise

On hearing the news, on 29 September Helen tweeted: ‘So surprised and proud to be shortlisted for the rising star award in tech, just a part of a much bigger team doing some awesome things in health technology innovation.’

The project exemplifies Connect’s core values of being forward-thinking and putting patients at the heart of everything we do – and I’m extremely proud of the part I played in making it a reality [Helen Robson]

A Topol Digital Fellow

Coincidentally, Connect Health published a blog by Helen on its website on the same day. This is titled ‘Enhancing the digital journey for our patients and colleagues: My year as a Topol Digital Fellow.’

Connect Health handles more than 680,000 physiotherapy/tier 2 musculoskeletal appointments every year, she states. ‘We pride ourselves on our patient-first approach, yet various challenges – time constraints, complex cases, the Covid backlog and the administration of keeping clinical records updated – adds extra pressure to our hardworking teams.’

Work on the DECon project

Helen’s fellowship began in March 2021, and she was able to devote 40 per cent cent of her working time to it and developing the digitally-enhanced consultations (DECon) project.

The programme of digitally-enhance consultations was piloted in Nottingham and tested in Herts Valley, and is now live in all of Connect Health’s tier 2 provision, Helen says. ‘Any patient with an appointment receives a link to our patient portal, where they can complete the questionnaire.’

More than 11,000 patients have received it so far, with an average completion rate of four in 10 – ‘much higher than national data sets’, Helen notes.  ‘We continue to review how we optimise messages and the portal to further improve patient uptake.'

Helen adds: ‘Thanks to our translation software, 117 languages can be translated by typing, with seven languages accessible via voice dictation. The form can be completed via dictation or typing and meets NHS accessibility guidelines for screen readers.

‘Most valuably for our clinicians, the information from completed questionnaires is transferred within 24 hours of submission to Systm1.’

What is a Topol Digital Fellowship?

Launched after The Topol Review was published in 2019, the fellowship programme provides health professionals with time, support and training to lead digital health transformation within their organisation, Helen explains in her blog.

For more information, visit: https://topol.hee.nhs.uk/digital-fellowships

To read the full version of Helen’s blog, visit: https://www.connecthealth.co.uk/blog/enhancing-the-digital-journey-for-our-patients-and-colleagues

For more information about the 2022 Dynamites IT and Tech Awards, visit: https://www.dynamonortheast.co.uk/dynamites-22-awards-shortlisted-entries-2/