What digital health companies can learn from Slack

There are literally hundreds of thousands of apps that identify as health related on the various app stores. At a time when ‘fiscal-fluidity’ is as real as seeing a flying elephant, how can SME’s learn from the Slack ethos?

The growing ‘digital movement’ within the NHS is buoyant to say the least. It’s littered within strategic plans across STP areas in England and from a national perspective. Senior NHSE Leaders deliver an untold amount of keynote, fireside and talks on the growing opportunity.

Sadly, apart from a few national streams of funding, the funding needed to transforms organisations and adopt new technologies that will underpin true digital transformation is not there.

At a recent planning meeting, it was a case of “wouldn’t it be great to do X” “If we could do Y that would address issue X and still make savings”

The amazing efforts of the teams at Digitalhealth.London/HIN that work hard to introduce digital health SME’s to NHS orgs are not given the recognition they deserve. These teams work in a variety of innovative and ways to take a lot of stress off of these organisations so that they can focus on getting the right innovation to suit their objectives. Yet, despite this support there is still a resistance to working with ‘industry’. The AHSN’s understand the pressure that the NHS is under, hence why their role is vital in ensuring that the little funding available goes to the right intervention.

We are living in a time where there aren’t just a few great tools available, but literally hundreds of different tools, services, platforms which have the potential to transform health, care and the rest. NHS brand is crucial and is tested, recognised and depended on. You could have a tool that literally extends a persons life by 10 years, but people would want to see the NHS branding before fully believing or trusting it. Equally, NHS orgs would ask “Where is the data that proves it works?”….. even if you’ve only just invented it.

Slack is a magnificent platform which has so many unique features. But it’s TRUE strength is its ability to add integration apps into its system it even integrates other systems from its own category! This is genius because the value of Slack increases as the number of customisations increase. It doesn’t assimilate but bolsters it’s own brand by servicing another. This is a brilliant strategy and shows that they accept the fact that there will never be just a single app that does everything, create an ecosystem and people will use you more and more. What can we learn?

SME’s and other companies should work with the NHS, not to be the ‘top dawg’ but to have your brand as a valued component within an ecosystem. By partnering with an NHS org and integrating over a specific period, you can embed your tool as something the organisation cannot live without. I’ve spoken to dozens and dozens of companies that don’t see the value of integration and I think that’s a shame. You can still build your life’s work, but also be a part of something bigger and more important…a healthcare system that aims to be the best in the world.

Tips on getting your tech/app/platform noticed and adopted.

1 – emailing the CIO and only the CIO won’t work. If you do choose to email, think of the language you use and don’t write more than 4 paragraphs. Include a YouTube link that describes what you have.

2- I am always suspicious of the motives with some, so just be genuine in your approach. If you are solely concerned with making lots of money, don’t bother, I and others will clock you a mile off.

3- if you have an app, do your due diligence. Make sure you have your DCB0129 evidence ready, if classed as a medical device get assessed by MHRA. Then get in touch with the legends at NHS Digital and go through the DAQ assessment so that you are on the NHS app library. It’s worth the effort and proves to commissioners that you are serious about clinical safety.

4- tailor your product to the objectives/challenges of an organisation. If you approach an organisation in serious deficit but fail to show how your app will make efficiencies or savings, then they won’t even bother as they don’t have the time. Period.

5- Lean on the AHSNs and listen to their guidance. They are extremely good at what they do. If they arrange meetings for you, make sure you are professional and don’t miss the appointment just because you don’t think it’s a big enough deal.