Exploring technologies
Developing a national SACT database.
Data Virtualisation is a novel approach to integrate data sets without moving or duplicating the data. Data Virtualisation (DV) technology presents the data through a ‘virtual window’ so users can ‘peer in’ to data held in different systems.
IHDP established the National Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Data group, which demonstrated the feasibility of using Data Virtualisation to pull together chemotherapy data from the prescribing systems used across the five Scottish Cancer Centres, providing national comparative reporting of chemotherapy treatment for the first time.
A national comparative view of data will allow the identification of any inappropriate variations in treatment and prompt corrective action.
With support from IHDP, National Services Scotland (NSS) is now using Data Virtualisation to link other health and social care datasets. This includes the launch of the Congenital Anomalies and Rare Diseases Registration and Information Service for Scotland (CARDRISS).
- Working collectively for a national approach can require significant investment of time, but have greater gain than quick-fix solutions.
Experimenting with cognitive computing.
Scottish Enterprise supported experimental work with IBM Watson and IHDP to demonstrate how cognitive computing technologies might contribute to the SCIF. While use cases ranging from clinical point of care to intelligence and research were derived and evaluated for business value, the availability of data in digital form and the ability to access data in ways that would ensure patient privacy meant that wider exploration of the use cases was not possible.
Demonstrating the current limitations in the application of cognitive computing to cancer data in Scotland enabled efforts to be focussed elsewhere.
- The reasons that something is not possible can be due to current context, rather than that the innovation ‘does not work’. This can provide a rationale and evidence for change.
- Learning what is not possible, and being able to flex in response, means efforts can be redeployed to more useful areas.
Cancer Innovation Challenge.
The Cancer Innovation Challenge was a £1m project funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to encourage Innovation Centres in Scotland to work in partnership to help Scotland become a world leading carer for people with cancer. IHDP was a key partner in implementing the Challenge.
Activities for the Challenge centred around two key workstreams:
- New approaches and tools to record and integrate patient reported data into routine cancer care.
- Innovative data science solutions to improve cancer care and outcomes.
Following competitive selection, collaborative exploration and feasibility studies, three solutions were developed to improve experiences and treatments for patients:
- Multi-sector collaboration brings a range of expertise and can ensure solutions are fit for purpose and add real value.
- Fast paced innovation involving NHS and industry is possible but challenging.
- Information governance challenges have a particular impact on innovation with data.
- Innovation does not automatically lead to implementation - change management is also crucial, particularly within the NHS.
Programmes of work
An overview of IHDP-led activities and learning.