Facilitator Handbook 2005 - PRIMIS

Action Planning and Supporting Change
PRIMIS Facilitator Handbook
Action Planning and Supporting Change
Background
The NHS is constantly changing due to the political agenda. Recent changes to the GP
contract and the increased priority for use of information technology in the NHS are affecting
the culture of primary care, with emphasis on recording data on the computer as opposed to
paper-based records.
This training module follows on from the Data Analysis, Interpretation and Feedback module
and is designed to assist the information facilitator in helping practices to manage change, and
develop and implement action plans. Following on from the facilitator’s initial feedback session,
the practice can identify areas where data quality issues have been highlighted. It gives a
platform to start from in deciding:
• where are they now?
• where do they want to get to?
• how are they going to get there?
One method for instigating change is to raise dissatisfaction with the current situation, in this
case in the quality of the practice’s data. This should be a whole practice process with all
members of staff involved. There are various techniques that a facilitator may use with a
practice. Some examples are given in the box below:
Suggested Information Management tasks for practice use
• Planning data collection and storage processes
• Understanding how members of the practice team use data
• Developing data entry policies and procedures
• Monitoring information handling systems
The Training
The training takes place over a full day and is run on either an individual scheme or group
basis. The training consists of a presentation about the stages of change management and
several exercises to be undertaken by the participants during the training; it covers the
following topics:
• reducing resistance to change
• knowing what causes change
• raising dissatisfaction with the current way of doing things
• reaching agreement on a common way forward
• identifying who is involved in the change process
PRIMIS 51