Digital maturity in the context of the NHS refers to an organization’s ability to respond effectively to changes and trends in technology. It’s a measure of how ready an organization is to adapt to and integrate with new digital technologies. This concept is crucial in the context of the NHS’s long-term plan to transform and redesign health services.
A digitally mature organization in the NHS should demonstrate a clear link between its digital strategies and core business objectives. This involves developing an advanced digital infrastructure, involving knowledgeable and committed individuals, and using data for learning and continuous improvement. This is important as it enables healthcare providers to use technology to make patient care safer and more efficient, and to learn from both good and bad outcomes.
Digital maturity assessments (DMAs) are tools that help NHS organizations self-assess their readiness for integrating digital technologies. These assessments focus on themes such as the organization’s readiness to deliver digital systems, the digital capabilities available, and the infrastructure in place to support these capabilities. DMAs help in identifying gaps in service provision, supporting finance and procurement decisions, understanding opportunities for growth and development, and enabling future planning and delivery of health services.
The NHS England website provides a comprehensive explanation of the Digital Maturity Assessment, detailing how it measures maturity against seven dimensions of the ‘What Good Looks Like (WGLL) framework’, which includes aspects like well-led, smart foundations, safe practice, and support people. Meanwhile, NHS Providers provide insights into the broader implications and challenges of achieving digital maturity, emphasizing the need for a clear path to digital maturity and focusing on patient outcomes rather than just digitizing existing paper processes.