For our final customer recognition feature, we will be talking about Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s long standing programme of work with Patients Know Best within the Ketamine Treatment Service for treatment-resistant depression.
If you need to seek help in relation to depression, please contact your healthcare provider or find advice services offered by Mind here, and the Zero Suicide Alliance here.
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease, with close to 800,000 people dying due to suicide every year, and suicide being the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds, innovative treatment methods, such as the Ketamine service for treatment resistant depression are key to addressing this problem. Read more about how PKB supported this programme of work and the role it is playing in forming a national ketamine registry in the full case study here.
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust offers a Ketamine Treatment Service for those who have been referred by their GP or psychiatrist for treatment-resistant depression. Patients are assessed by a psychiatrist to confirm their suitability and once confirmed, their initial treatment consists of three ketamine infusions over three weeks.
The patients are asked to complete the journal section to record their day-to-day thoughts and feelings and also to track their symptoms on the symptom tracker in PKB, as well as complete care plans and questionnaires (consultations).
Despite the cohort of patients being less that 250 in total, their independent usage statistics are impressive:
- Over 9,000 measurements recorded
- Over 2000 symptoms tracked
- Over 500 files uploaded by patients
Patients using PKB with the service are getting good use from the messaging functionality to be able to speak to their clinician when they need to, with over 2,000 messages exchanged to date.
Over 2,600 care plans have been created and updated so far, with 97% of these initiated by the patients as requested and over 434 structured questionnaires (Consultations) completed. The information about medication and previous history which the service is collecting from these care plans and questionnaires would take 40 minutes if collected face-to-face, however collecting this ahead of the appointment allows the appointment time to be repurposed.
As well as the operational efficiencies, and increased safety PKB brings to the service, it also improves the patient’s ability to manage their care
“It makes me feel involved and it actually makes me feel like I’m doing something to help myself. So if that’s empowerment, then I think it is. Because you have constant access to it and you are taking part in your own treatment. You’re not being treated, you’re actually involved in it”
PKB is a proud member organisation of the Zero Suicide Alliance.