Data for Impact (DfI) Project: What’s happening?

Exciting developments for DfI are coming, but keep inputting to maintain your data collection – watch this space!!

DfI has moved to Keele University

On 1st October 2024, the Data for Impact (DfI) project moved to Keele University. The Project is led by Dr Shemane Murtagh, the lead researcher previously based at Brighton University, and Professor Jonathan Hill, a world-leading expert in MSK Physiotherapy.  This transition ensures continuity of the scheme and provides exciting new opportunities for development.

Why the move to Keele?

The DfI project is now based within the Centre for Musculoskeletal Health Research at Keele, allowing us to:

• Become part of a larger, more ambitious research programme
• Align directly with the MSK National Audit, which includes NHS physiotherapy services
• Enhance and modernise the technology to improve the data collection process for clinicians, making data collection easier and more efficient to embed within the clinical workflow.

What’s the ‘bigger project’?

By aligning DfI with the MSK National Audit, we can now contribute to a national picture of musculoskeletal care. This allows us to:

• Map patient pathways across public and private care
• Promote equitable access to best practice
• Contribute to quality improvement efforts across the sector

When will data collection change?

Currently, data continues to be entered via the existing DfI tool developed at University of Brighton. Behind the scenes, the research team at Keele University have been working hard to:

• Align the current data collection framework with NHS audit standards
• Develop a new, clinician-friendly online platform which will include automated patient surveys sent by text and email
• Develop independent data collection from patients pre and post treatment.

What are the next steps?

The research team will soon be entering the pilot testing phase of this new platform. Once testing is complete, the new system will be rolled out - we;ll keep you informed at every step.

What about Quality Assurance?

The Quality Assurance process remains unchanged for now. Data downloaded at each time point is still being used to assess against current quality criteria. Once the new data collection is live, these criteria will be reviewed and updated if necessary – and we’ll notify you of any changes in advance.

In the meantime – keep inputting your data!

The more data we collect, the stronger the evidence we can build about the effectiveness of physiotherapy in the private sector.

Remember: All physiotherapists within your clinic can join Physio First, contribute to DfI, and work towards becoming a Quality Assured Clinic.

The research team will contact all current participants of the Data for Impact (DfI) with details of the how to access the new platform once it goes live.  If you aren’t yet signed up for the project, but would like to, please sign up here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/QAGufj5Zym