Opportunistic Screening

Opportunistic screening focuses on detecting potential health issues before they escalate, helping individuals stay healthier and reducing the demand on hospital resources.

This proactive approach identifies patients who may have undiagnosed conditions, enabling timely interventions that improve outcomes and lower healthcare costs.

What is Opportunistic Screening?

Opportunistic screening – or ‘opportunistic assessment’ as it is sometimes known – is a way of identifying patients who may have an undiagnosed medical problem. Graphnet’s Population Health Management Software supports opportunistic screening for over 17 million people, identifying conditions like stroke and heart disease before they become critical.

By screening targeted groups, our system reduces the occurrence of life-altering conditions and even prevents fatalities. For example, our stroke prevention program uses devices such as ECG monitors, oximeters, and blood pressure monitors to gather critical health data from people who might be unaware of underlying issues.

Opportunistic screening can take place in GP surgeries, pharmacies, or community centres, allowing patients to complete surveys or health checks while they wait. The screenings aren’t limited to clinical data; they can cover lifestyle, mood, and general wellness.

Why Opportunistic Screening Matters

Strokes alone cost the NHS an estimated £3 billion each year, with an additional £4 billion in economic impacts due to lost productivity, disability, and informal care [1]. By identifying and addressing health risks early, opportunistic screening supports preventive care and reduces the burden on the health system.

Opportunistic screening is a data-driven process that supports patient care by:

• Flagging Health Risks Early: Identifying potential health concerns before they progress.
• Enabling Proactive Care Management: Allowing health teams to monitor and respond to the needs of at-risk individuals.
• Supporting Resource Efficiency: Freeing up hospital beds and resources by reducing emergency admissions.

Graphnet’s Role in Opportunistic Screening

Graphnet simplifies the process of setting up and conducting opportunistic screening. Our DOCOBOAPP™ enables rapid data collection, even in community kiosks.

Healthcare teams can use this intuitive app to identify health disparities and refer individuals to the right services. When a measurement is outside typical parameters, DOCOBOAPP™ automatically alerts the clinical team for swift follow-up.

With 20+ years of remote monitoring expertise, our approach is rooted in keeping people healthy and out of hospitals until absolutely necessary.

Talk to our team today to learn more!

Graphnet's Key Partners

Graphnet collaborates with NHS England’s Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme (InHIP), focussing on addressing healthcare disparities among underserved populations.

Additionally, we work with Health Innovation West Midlands on the InHIP project to reduce inequalities and enhance access to advanced healthcare solutions. This aligns with the Core20PLUS5 national strategy, which targets key areas like maternity, mental health, respiratory issues, cancer diagnosis, and cardiovascular disease.

Source:

1.      https://www.england.nhs.uk/2019/05/nhs-stroke-action-will-save-hundreds-of-lives/.