How HeadChannel Automated NHS Invoice Validation for Pulse Informatics

Pulse Informatics is a healthcare analytics consultancy that provides data solutions to help NHS organisations make better decisions. With HeadChannel, it developed PiHealth, a bespoke tool that makes NHS invoice validation more efficient and accurate and improves financial scrutiny, so NHS services are more cost-effective and providers are paid correctly and promptly.

The Challenge

As NHS spending grows, managing money well matters more to the quality of services. NHS commissioners make sure funds are used appropriately by validating invoices. The traditional manual method relied on several tools and databases, and it was slow, labour-intensive and prone to error. It led to delays, back-and-forth challenges and miscommunication between providers and commissioners.

Pulse Informatics wanted a central system that would automate the whole validation process, making it faster, more accurate and less resource-heavy, so commissioners could focus on improving services and outcomes for patients.

The Approach

Pulse Informatics chose HeadChannel because it had built bespoke healthcare software before. A series of workshops set the objectives for PiHealth: one system for every invoice validation task, less manual input, and a transparent, accessible platform for commissioners and providers.

HeadChannel built PiHealth as a web-based tool.

Automated validation. PiHealth checks invoices automatically, and commissioners validate or challenge them with little manual intervention.

One place to communicate. Commissioners and providers send, track and respond to challenges on a single platform, which reduces the risk of miscommunication.

Real-time updates. Users track the status of each challenge and receive daily notifications summarising responses, so every stage is visible.

Tools for each role. Commissioners initiate challenges, track responses and view reports. Providers manage and respond to challenges from the same platform.

HeadChannel has continued to support Pulse Informatics, with updates and enhancements so PiHealth keeps pace with the needs of the NHS.

The Outcome

Automated validation and a single channel for communication have reduced the time and effort it takes to manage invoices, and automating the checks reduces the risk of human error. Commissioners could manage fiscal scrutiny more easily and resolve challenges faster, helping the NHS maximise health value for patients.

PiHealth is a step towards NHS services that are more cost-effective and more responsive to patient needs.