Sussex NHS Community Foundation Trust – A pioneering leader in healthcare who recognised the growing importance of solutions in enhancing patient care
Taking a bold, forward thinking move they have integrated the trusts professional-facing app library into their SystmOne portal.
“We know our patients are eager to use apps to enhance their health and wellbeing—whether they’re awaiting treatment, following a care pathway, or managing their recovery post-discharge. Since the NHS App Library was decommissioned in 2021, we’ve lacked a safe, reliable way to recommend effective self-management tools. The ORCHA formulary integration with SystmOne changes that entirely, providing a new level of professional accountability and audit that is critical for modern patient care,” says Antonia Brown, Chief Nursing Information Officer, SCFT.
The primary goal of this integration was to empower healthcare professionals at Sussex NHS Community Foundation Trust with a groundbreaking ability, to recommend trusted, clinically-validated health apps directly to patients via the SystmOne portal.
This innovative capability was envisioned to revolutionize the treatment process and improve patient outcomes, by providing seamless access to powerful digital tools that can dramatically improve how patients manage their health. The trust aims to elevate patient outcomes and boost engagement in self-care.
Integrating ORCHA’s formulary into the system wasn’t just about adding a new tool—it was a game-changing step toward reimagining how healthcare professionals and patients interact in the digital age. This strategic leap forward is set to transform daily workflows, embedding digital health solutions into patient care pathways with ease and efficiency.
The results? Better patient engagement, greater adherence to treatment plans, and significantly improved health outcomes. Through this bold initiative, Sussex NHS Community Foundation Trust is positioning itself as a trailblazer in digital health innovation within the NHS, setting a powerful standard for other healthcare providers to follow.
The integration kicked off with a series of collaborative meetings between the Trust’s Integration Lead and our Technical Architect at ORCHA. These sessions were laser-focused on identifying potential hurdles and ensuring the solution would meet every user need without compromising on data security or regulatory compliance.
The design phase was all about precision. A detailed blueprint was crafted to seamlessly embed ORCHA’s formulary into the SystmOne portal. The goal: to allow healthcare professionals instant access to search and recommend trusted health apps—all without ever leaving the portal. Every data flow diagram and integration point was meticulously mapped to guarantee smooth, secure data exchanges, backed by rock-solid user authentication.
Using agile methodologies, we entered the testing phase in full collaboration. The Trust took the lead, running both automated and user acceptance tests with clinicians. Meanwhile, we conducted rigorous security testing to ensure everything aligned with GDPR and other key regulations. This dynamic approach made for an integration that wasn’t just secure—it was robust, intuitive, and perfectly tailored for healthcare professionals.
Healthcare professionals can now empower their patients like never before by recommending personalized health apps directly during consultations, inspiring patients to take charge of their own health and well-being.
Thanks to the seamless integration, professionals no longer need to navigate away from the SystmOne portal, saving valuable time.
A streamlined, efficient process that frees up more time for patient care.
The feedback from healthcare professionals has been overwhelmingly positive. They appreciate the ease of access to trusted digital health solutions, which are now just a click away. “Having single sign-on via the patient’s electronic record (SystmOne) to directly recommend apps will be a game-changer for our clinicians. It eliminates the need to switch platforms, saving time and effort. Plus, all recommendations are stored in one place, allowing us to avoid duplication and making follow-ups much simpler,” says Mel Briers, Digital Nurse Specialist at SCFT.
ORCHA Health proudly announces the renewal of its Cyber Essentials certification, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to robust cybersecurity practices.
The Cyber Essentials certification is a UK government-backed scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves against common online threats. This renewal underscores ORCHA Health’s dedication to continuously safeguarding its systems, data, and clients from cyber threats.
“Renewing the Cyber Essentials certification is a testament to our enduring commitment to cybersecurity,” Liz Ashall-Payne, Founding CEO of ORCHA Health. “It demonstrates our ongoing dedication to protecting the sensitive information entrusted to us by our clients and partners, and our proactive approach to maintaining the highest standards in cybersecurity.”
The renewal process involved a thorough re-evaluation of ORCHA Health’s cybersecurity measures, including assessments of the company’s firewall configuration, secure configuration of systems, user access control, malware protection, and patch management. By meeting the stringent requirements of the Cyber Essentials scheme once again, ORCHA Health has proven its continued capability to defend against a wide range of cyber-attacks.
This renewal not only enhances ORCHA Health’s reputation as a trusted provider of digital health solutions but also provides reassurance to clients and stakeholders about the company’s stringent and evolving security protocols. With the increasing prevalence of cyber threats, maintaining the Cyber Essentials certification is a crucial step in ensuring the ongoing integrity and security of ORCHA Health’s digital health services.
ORCHA Health remains committed to continuous improvement and will regularly review and update its cybersecurity measures to stay ahead of emerging threats and best practices in the industry. The company looks forward to leveraging this renewed certification to further strengthen its cybersecurity posture and build greater trust with its clients and partners.
For more information about ORCHA Health, please visit https://www.orchahealth.com or contact hello@orchahealth.com.
Founded in 2015, ORCHA (the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps) has grown rapidly to become the world’s leading health app evaluation and distribution organisation. Its mission is to get safe, effective healthcare to millions more people across the globe by harnessing digital technology.
With a strong focus on quality, innovation and customer satisfaction, ORCHA Health works extensively with the NHS, charities and social care providers in the UK, digital health suppliers, and with 11 other governments globally.
Committed to excellence and integrity, ORCHA Health conducts reviews on health apps, measuring each against 350 tough standards and creates app libraries which health and care staff can use as a source of the highest quality digital health support.
ORCHA Health proudly announces it has received certification to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standards, reinforcing its commitment to excellence and security.
The ISO 9001:2015 certification is an internationally recognised standard for quality management systems. It demonstrates ORCHA Health’s dedication to consistently providing products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements, enhancing customer satisfaction through effective system application and continual improvement.
In addition to this achievement, ORCHA Health has also been awarded the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification. This certification highlights the company’s commitment to maintaining and improving an effective information security management system (ISMS). By achieving ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ORCHA Health assures its clients and stakeholders of its robust security protocols to protect sensitive information and mitigate risks associated with data breaches and cyber threats.
“Receiving both the ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to maintaining the highest standards in quality and security,” said Liz Ashall-Payne, Founding CEO of ORCHA Health. “These certifications not only validate our processes but also reflect our commitment to our clients and partners, ensuring we deliver the best possible innovative solutions while safeguarding their information.”
The certification process involved a rigorous evaluation of ORCHA Health’s management systems, including comprehensive audits by UKAS accredited external bodies. The company underwent thorough assessments of its quality management procedures and information security practices to ensure compliance with the stringent requirements of both standards.
With these certifications, ORCHA Health joins an elite group of organisations worldwide that have demonstrated excellence in both quality management and information security. This dual achievement positions the company as a trusted and reliable partner, capable of delivering superior products and services while maintaining the highest levels of information security.
ORCHA Health remains committed to continual improvement and will regularly review and update its management systems to align with the evolving standards and best practices in the industry. The company looks forward to leveraging these certifications to further enhance its operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and competitive edge.
For more information about ORCHA Health, please visit https://www.orchahealth.com or contact hello@orchahealth.com.
Founded in 2015, ORCHA (the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps) has grown rapidly to become the world’s leading health app evaluation and distribution organisation. Its mission is to get safe, effective healthcare to millions more people across the globe by harnessing digital technology.
With a strong focus on quality, innovation and customer satisfaction, ORCHA Health works extensively with the NHS, charities and social care providers in the UK, digital health suppliers, and with 11 other governments globally.
Committed to excellence and integrity, ORCHA Health conducts reviews on health apps, measuring each against 350 tough standards and creates app libraries which health and care staff can use as a source of the highest quality digital health support.
Background
Holly Health, a digital health and wellbeing coaching tool, has been instrumental in supporting patients within primary care networks in changing behaviours and habits sustainably. By leveraging digital tools, Holly Health aims to reduce the burden on clinical teams and healthcare costs while empowering individuals to take charge of their health.
Challenge
Chronic conditions contribute significantly to NHS pressures, with many being preventable through lifestyle changes. Holly Health sought to address this challenge by providing affordable, personalised health and wellbeing support via an intuitive and engaging app.
Solution
Holly Health is a personalised, digital health coaching app, designed to support people to develop sustainable health behaviours, aiming to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.
Supporting their work, Holly Health partnered with ORCHA, a leading company specialising in assessing and validating digital health technologies, to ensure compliance and trust in their product. Through rigorous evaluation and validation processes, ORCHA helped Holly Health establish credibility and reliability, essential factors in the adoption of digital health solutions.
Outcome
Primary care networks utilising Holly Health’s digital coaching tool have witnessed remarkable results. Data analysis revealed a reduction in GP appointments among users, with significant improvements in health outcomes. Notably, patients with conditions like Type 2 diabetes and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease experienced fewer appointments per year, showcasing the effectiveness of the digital tool in managing chronic conditions.
Impact
Holly Health has facilitated the delivery of personalised support to over 35,000 individuals across more than 180 NHS primary care partnerships. In regions like the Scottish Ayrshire area, where the service was deployed, significant improvements in mental wellbeing and exercise levels were observed among users.
Testimonials
Alexia Pellowe, Clinical Director at NHS Ayrshire & Arran, emphasised the meaningful impact of Holly Health’s approach, stating, “It’s encouraging to see change start to happen as we make meaningful person-centred gains with patient outcomes along with demonstrating cost efficiencies.”
Steve Woodford, Non-Executive Director, NHS England, hailed Holly Health as an exemplar of innovation essential for empowering individuals to maintain well-being proactively.
Future Outlook
With a focus on prevention and early intervention, Holly Health aims to further alleviate long-term healthcare pressures through scalable digital solutions. By enabling individuals to manage their health effectively, Holly Health is poised to drive positive health outcomes and contribute to the sustainability of healthcare systems.