Right across healthcare, we are seeing an increase in demand and pressure on healthcare professionals to provide and maintain an exceptionally high standard of care. These pressures are no more evident than in primary care, with PCNs under pressure due to workforce shortages, staff burnout, and increasingly limited resources.
To help alleviate some of these shared challenges and pressures, we’re seeing more and more PCNs signing up to TeamNet on behalf of their practices, maximising the benefits of TeamNet in a shared setting and driving further efficiencies.
So, what are the benefits of TeamNet for PCNs?
Here are just some of the ways that PCNs can use TeamNet to help address the challenges they are facing.
All Communications in One Place
When sharing vital information across various practices and people, you want to ensure that the information is correct and up to date, so everyone is on the same page.
Through TeamNet, PCNs can collect, manage, and share information across the network through a single source, ensuring that all information read and shared within your workforce is accurate, with read and acknowledgement receipts logged for CQC inspections.
Streamlined Workforce Planning
ARRS-recruited roles play a vital part in helping take on some of the extra workloads of practices. TeamNet’s workforce planning modules mean that PCNs can schedule these ARRS roles directly into practice rotas, ensuring they are placed where their services are needed the most.
This enables both permanent and additional roles to be rostered alongside each other, making it easier for Practice Managers to maintain their rotas, with the ability to update rotas in real time to account for last-minute absences and changes.
Efficient HR Management
Despite the turbulent landscape, now more than ever, the CQC expects PCNs and GP practices to maintain comprehensive and accurate HR records as part of their overall commitment to delivering high-quality care to patients. Given PCNs and practices share this responsibility, it can be challenging to ensure these records are up-to-date and available for Practice Managers should they need them.
Thankfully, TeamNet’s ability to store and securely share HR records enables PCNs to ensure proof of qualifications, training, HR checks, supervision, and appraisal can be accessed wherever and whenever they’re needed.
More Manageable Training
In addition to maintaining HR records, PCNs must ensure staff training compliance, including evidence of completion of training courses and certifications. This helps to ensure that staff are properly qualified to provide the care that patients need.
Through the iLearn add-on for TeamNet, PCNs can be assured their practice teams are staying on top of their training. iLearn, which can be accessed through the same platform, provides an easier way to complete and log evidence of training, which can all be reported on for CQC purposes.
Building Resilience with Familiarity
Building on and maintaining a high level of resilience and effectiveness within your teams can take time, but choosing a familiar system can mean the shared process of working is streamlined more quickly.
Currently, 70% of GP Practices in England use TeamNet, meaning that adoption at a PCN level may provide immediate HR and workforce efficiencies, alleviating some of the pressures facing PCNs.