FEATURE TECHNOLOGY
Overcoming the challenges
Throughout these projects we have developed
own research skills and expanded our knowle
deployment of digital innovation in the NHS, w
started new collaborations nationally and inter
written bids for research funding and had the
opportunity to develop this technology, which
would enhance occupational therapy practice
future.
We have experienced some challenges alo
way and here are four examples of how we ha
overcome these obstacles.
Overcoming professional language bar
all speak different professional languages and
work together in a team you need to ensure e
‘on the same page’.
We have overcome this by having regular p
meetings to myth bust, clarify understandings
about each other’s work world. We have also
that ensuring research and academic occupat
therapists are part of the project team assists
Time: getting funding for projects takes tim
resilient and persevere, in the times of low act
about what you can do to be keeping the mom
going on a project.
Data governance: data protection, ethics
information governance issues are time consu
but key to success. We added a workstream
projects to ensure issues are highlighted early
and technology resilience testing is of paramo
importance to give others confidence in the pr
Engaging with IT leads for problem solving and
is essential.
Concerns: it is important to understand
stakeholders’ views and build mechanisms for
evaluating the impacts on clinical practice.
This project started with a problem to solve
clinical practice; we have learnt a lot and had
along the way, it has been a team effort and a
we have had to dig deep. Our story has not fin
we are currently thinking about funding to aim
project four.
We have developed the following five key p
which we believe fundamentally underpin our
we hope this will be helpful for anyone else em
on a digital research and innovation journey.
Keep it real: each project is grounded in ‘
world’, this is achieved by strong clinical leade
seconding clinicians into the project.
Patient and public engagement: multipl
consultations so we can understand the need
and collect their ideas about how the technolo
be used to improve their experience.
30 OTnews June 2020