Intro to Accurx for Community Organisations

If you're a NHS worker who works in the Community Healthcare sector then this article will help you with knowing who Accurx are.

Ayrton avatar
Written by Ayrton
Updated over a week ago

👋 Introduction

Accurx’s easy-to-use software helps everyone involved in a patient’s care to communicate and collaborate. Our secure and integrated platform lets NHS staff send SMS messages, hold video consultations, view patient GP records and manage outpatient care. This enables teams in trusts to coordinate care quicker and more efficiently. With Accurx, trusts have the means to tackle elective care waiting lists, save time and money, improve patient experience and make safer, speedier clinical decisions about patients.

Our software includes two functionalities that saves NHS staff significant amounts of time and can support the reduction in DNA rates with patients. The first, Batch Messaging, enables messages to be sent in large batches to patients at a specific date and time using pre-existing templates with functionality to save and code directly back to the patient record. The second, Appointment Reminders, scrapes the clinical system to draw on appointment bookings to automatically send reminders to patients either 24 hours or 1 week before their appointment time.


🎤 Our Platforms

Accurx can provide services to NHS institutions via two platforms, Accurx Desktop and Accurx Web, which are designed to suit the specific care setting and depend on the electronic patient record (EPR) system used.

Accurx Desktop was designed initially for primary care and is integrated by default with EMIS, SystmOne and Vision. This provides a toolbar that sits on top of the EPR and enables users to access features such as; messaging patients, patient questionnaires, video consultations, batch messaging and appointment reminders, with the ability to save updates directly to the patient record. This platform can also be used in settings outside of primary care that use EMIS or SystmOne EPRs.

Accurx Web is designed for use in secondary care or NHS organisations that use EPR systems other than EMIS and SystmOne. It functions within an internet browser and users log in using their NHS Single Sign On. Patient information is gathered through the Personal Demographic Service (PDS) and updates currently can be manually transferred into the EPR system. Alternatively, bespoke integrations with the PAS and/or EPR can be built, this is typically reserved for a Trust wide roll out.


✅ System Requirements

Batch Messaging and Appointment Reminders require the use of Accurx Desktop and therefore use of EMIS, SystmOne or Vision as the organisation’s Electronic Patient Record. Other system requirements include:

  • Microsoft Windows 7 and above

  • 150MB hard drive space

  • 100MB working RAM

  • .NET 4.6.1 or greater

  • EMIS Web or SystmOne (for functionality requiring the medical record)

  • Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC (as required for Windows 10)

  • Display: 800 x 600 (as required for Windows 10)

Further information about the installation of the Accurx Desktop toolbar can be found here.

Accurx Web does not require any specific system requirements. We recommend using the web based product on a Google Chrome browser.


⚙️ Product Functionality and Availability

The Accurx platform provides the following functionalities:

Product

Features & Functionality

Batch Messaging*

  • Ad-hoc or templated messages to patients

  • Stagger and schedule batch messages

  • Coded outbound and patient responses to medical record

Appointment Reminders*

  • Configure reminders for multiple slot types

  • Patients can easily confirm their attendance to appointments

  • 24 hour or 7 Day Reminder for DNA reduction

  • Customisable Post-Appointment Message

Message Patient

  • Two-way messaging with patients via SMS or email

  • Option to create templates for speed or consistency

  • Option for patient to respond with text or photos

  • Attach digital documents, letters or links to information

  • Reduces administrative burden and financial implication of sending letters

Video Consultations

  • Hold scheduled video clinics, ad hoc virtual consultations with patients, or online MDTs

  • Patients receive a link via text and can access from any device with no registration or downloads required

  • Secure platform, with ability to add multiple guests

  • Automated reminders and links to consultations

*Accurx Desktop only


🔌 Accessing Accurx

Accurx Desktop

Download the Accurx Desktop toolbar here: 👇

Please follow the support articles below for guidance on how to set up Accurx Desktop and install for all users within your organisation:

Accurx Web

Please follow the support article below for guidance on how to set up Accurx Web:


💰 Pricing

If you're keen to use our paid for features then get in touch with our Support Team and they will put you in touch with the relevant team!


🧑‍💻 Support

Accurx is dedicated to project success and is available to provide user support using live chat or email:

Support

Details

User support

  • Live chat available to all users averaging ~1 minute response time (available in product)

  • Email support via support@accurx.com

  • Online 24/7 Help Centre with a library of support and instruction articles

The User Support Team are available during the below times:

Day

Times

Monday to Friday

08:00 to 20:00

Saturday

09:00 to 17:00

Sundays & Bank Holidays

09:00 to 13:00

You can contact Support by going to the Help Centre here and clicking on the green message icon (as show below) for the fastest response. 👇

Alternatively, you can email the Support team here. We endeavour to respond to emails within 24-working hours.


🔐 Governance

We take security and privacy incredibly seriously. We have received the following credentials that demonstrate this:

Digital Care Services Catalogue and GPIT Futures, public procurement frameworks overseen by NHS Digital, also require us to comply with overarching standards and complete capability assessments, the details for which can be inspected here.

We work as a data processor under GDPR:

  • We provide the Accurx platform on the basis of a standard set of Terms and Data Processing Agreement.

  • Our Security and Privacy Centre on our website provides access to all the information necessary for compliance, including templates for the organisation to use in completing any DPIA. We also employ a privacy team who can assist organisations further with clarifying how the service works and other queries unanswered by the resources above.

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