The NHS Technology Adoption Centre (NTAC) has this week announced two further Technology Implementation Projects for 2010, exploring ultrasound elastography for the monitoring of liver fibrosis and SPECT brain imaging for the diagnosis of Lewy body dementia.

 

Adoption of new and existing technologies has been a key problem for the NHS and medical device manufacturers for many years

Under the programme, a project manager from the TAC will work with clinicians, managers and other stakeholders to integrate the selected technology into a chosen NHS setting, such as an operating theatre, ward or GP practice. Each project takes place in three or more different NHS host organisations and feedback is then gathered around issues that may arise for patients, staff and systems.

 

At the end of each trial an online How To, Why To guide is produced to practically inform other NHS bodies how to successfully adopt the chosen technology. The guide highlights what the potential adoption barriers are and how they can be overcome in future roll-outs. Features include a unique, easy-to-use business case tool; a costing model; and a roadmap to support hospital managers with implementation.

 

The scheme has already led to the completion of nine projects around the following areas:  

“These fields are both very significant for the NHS and we believe that the work NTAC and our partner trusts will be undertaking will demonstrate many benefits from adopting these technologies”

The two new initiatives will concentrate on the Fibroscan from Echosens - a new approach to the echo monitoring of liver fibrosis - and the use of DaTSCAN for SPECT brain imaging. The first project will take place at East Cheshire NHS Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, while the DaTSCAN trial will be run at 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.

 

Launching the projects, Margaret Parton, chief executive of the NTAC, said: “It is really good news that we are able to extend our range of projects into the fields of hepatology as well as older people’s neurology and psychiatry. These fields are both very significant for the NHS and we believe that the work NTAC and our partner trusts will be undertaking will demonstrate many benefits from adopting these technologies.”

 

All projects selected for the programme must meet a series of key criteria including:

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