A colleague using a PC at a nurses' station

This coming Wednesday, 25th June, and subject to a final readiness call, we will have a soft go live of a system (called OPTICA) to support our patients who require support with recovery, packages of care etc after discharge from one of our hospital sites.

OPTICA will run initially in parallel with our current Transfer of Care system (TOC system) tracking tasks relating to their discharge in real-time through their hospital journey.

OPTICA is short for Optimised Patient Tracking and Intelligent Choices Application.

Below is some important information:

  • OPTICA will initially run in parallel with the TOC system. TOC will still be the primary system while we continue to test the Optica system to make sure it meets our requirements and works with our processes before we make the switch. So, for all staff continue with use of TOC system whilst that parallel work is ongoing.
  • In the coming weeks we will test that we can send referral tasks, and record and manage referrals in collaboration with Kirklees and Calderdale partners (i.e. assessment, triage, allocation, confirmation of discharge date and time, etc.)
  • Running the systems side by side means that we can also make sure that everyone who needs it, has the right training. 
  • When we feel operationally ready, we will transition to primarily recording new data into OPTICA rather than TOC to prepare for the switch over.
  • Once tested, and all colleagues comfortable with the system and new processes we will let you know a date for when OPTICA is expected to formally replace the TOC system.

The OPTICA system is shared system with our health and social care partners in the community, alongside wider process transformation, to help us collectively plan for timely discharge and avoidance of unnecessary delays. Ultimately this will help make sure our patients are discharged back to the place they call home sooner.

There is some further information about the OPTICA product here OPTICA | NECS and the relationship of OPTICA to wider digital transformation in the NHS here: NHS England » NHS Federated Data Platform

If you have any questions please contact Michael Folan - Michael.Folan@cht.nhs.uk