Pulse Informatics partnered with HeadChannel to develop PiHealth, an innovative tool aimed at enhancing the NHS’s invoice validation process. This bespoke software solution improves efficiency, accuracy, and financial scrutiny, ensuring that NHS services are more cost-effective and that providers are paid correctly and promptly.
The Challenge
As NHS spending grows, efficient financial management has become crucial to maintaining quality services. NHS Commissioners play a key role in ensuring the appropriate use of funds through invoice validation. However, the traditional manual methods of validating invoices, involving multiple tools and databases, were time-consuming, labour-intensive, and prone to errors. This process often resulted in delays, back-and-forth challenges, and miscommunication between providers and commissioners.
Pulse Informatics sought to address this challenge by developing a centralised system that could automate the entire invoice validation process. Their vision was to make the validation process faster, more accurate, and less resource-heavy, allowing commissioners to focus on improving services and outcomes for patients.
Why HeadChannel?
Pulse Informatics chose HeadChannel for our experience in delivering bespoke healthcare solutions. We have a proven track record in developing software that integrates complex data and processes into intuitive, easy-to-use systems. Our ability to transform Pulse Informatics’ ambitious vision into a fully functional, scalable tool was key to our selection.
Our Approach
- Understanding the Vision
We held a series of workshops with Pulse Informatics to understand their objectives for the PiHealth tool. Our focus was to create a system that centralised all invoice validation tasks, reduced manual input, and provided a transparent, accessible platform for both commissioners and providers.
- Designing PiHealth
We developed PiHealth as a web-based tool that simplifies and automates the entire invoice validation process. Key features include:
Automated Invoice Validation: The tool automatically checks invoices, allowing commissioners to validate or challenge them with minimal manual intervention.
Centralised Communication: Both commissioners and providers can communicate, send, and track challenges through a single platform, reducing the risk of miscommunication.
Real-Time Updates: Users can track the status of challenges and view daily notifications summarising responses, ensuring transparency at every stage.
- Customised Features for Providers and Commissioners
We ensured that both commissioners and providers had access to tools specific to their roles. Commissioners can initiate challenges, track responses, and view comprehensive reports, while providers can manage and respond to challenges, all from one platform.
- Ongoing Support and Development
We provided Pulse Informatics with ongoing support to ensure that PiHealth continues to evolve with the needs of the NHS, offering updates and enhancements as necessary.
Testimonial
“HeadChannel’s development of the PiHealth tool has truly transformed the support to NHS Commissioners. By automating and centralising the invoice validation process, we’ve been able to reduce human error and increase efficiency. HeadChannel’s technical expertise and collaborative approach ensured that PiHealth delivered everything we envisioned and more.”
Richard Bundock
CTO, HeadChannel
The Outcome
The PiHealth tool, developed by HeadChannel for Pulse Informatics, has significantly improved the NHS invoice validation process. Key outcomes include:
Increased Efficiency: Automated validation and centralised communication have reduced the time and effort required to manage invoices.
Greater Accuracy: By automating the process, PiHealth minimises the risk of human error, ensuring that invoices are validated accurately.
Enhanced Financial Control: Commissioners can now easily manage fiscal scrutiny and resolve challenges faster, helping the NHS maximise health value for patients.
The successful launch of PiHealth marks a significant step toward making NHS services more cost-effective and responsive to patient needs.
About NHS Pulse Informatics
Pulse Informatics is a healthcare analytics consultancy that provides data solutions to NHS organisations. Their mission is to enhance decision-making processes within the NHS by offering innovative tools and systems like PiHealth, which streamline operations and improve the quality of care across the health service.
