Apr 13 min read

Training, frameworks and facilitation questions to support the role of the Primary Care Network Digital and Transformation lead

Updated: May 22

At THC, we provide resources for primary care leaders. This blog focuses on sharing training, frameworks, and facilitation questions to support the role of the PCN Digital and Transformation Lead.

However, PCN Managers, Digital Care Coordinators, Network Administrators, and anyone involved in a project or service improvement would also benefit from reading this.

In this blog, you will find a framework to help you approach the data, digital and transformation elements of your role and :

5️⃣ course recommendations

8️⃣ questions to inform your end-of-project review

9️⃣ questions to help you and your network understand the problems you are trying to solve

1️⃣ 0️⃣ barriers you will likely encounter in your project, providing the opportunity for you to address these now

This blog builds on some of the practical frameworks shared by Brad Hough Digital & Transformation Lead and, Conor Price, Managing Director of Primary Care Analytics, giving you a resource you can print off, build on and make your own.

Let's jump in.

The Webinar

It is our pleasure to be the Best Practice Webinar partner for 2024. Kicking off the series was An introduction to the digital and transformation lead role featuring PCN Digital and Transformation Lead Brad Hough and Conor Price, managing director of Primary Care Analytics.

If you would like to see a copy of the recording, please click below. (It's really good😊 !)

Webinar recording

Data | Digital | Transformation

The diagram below was created to help present how the data, digital and transformation elements work together.

They are interconnected, but the skills and experience may not be found in one person initially.

Understanding the problem we are trying to solve

Sometimes, it's tempting to want to hit the ground running, but in doing this, we may not be clear on what we ultimately want to achieve.

The 10 questions below are designed to help you facilitate, critically evaluate and gain clarity on the problem you are attempting to solve and what the desired outcome is.

Take time to articulate the following:

Anticipating Challenges

In all Primary Care Network roles, you will likely experience challenges relating to the following. Please note the list is not inclusive of all the challenges you may face.

Rather than wait for challenges to manifest, how can you address and anticipate these challenges to get your project off to the best possible start, and what solutions can you and the team proactively put in place?

Lessons Learnt

I can't stress enough how important it is to capture the lessons learnt from EVERY project to inform the next one.

At the simplest level, you can ask.

What went well?

What would be even better if?

For a more in-depth review, you may wish to apply/adapt the following questions.

Course Recommendations

During the webinar, Brad shared the following courses, which he found most helpful.

➡️ APMG change management course

➡️ CMI leadership course

➡️ PRINCE2 practitioner – It's good, but you don’t need it.

➡️ PMA offer a business analyst apprenticeship

➡️ Primary Care Analytics now provide training as well. Data & Analytics Development for General Practice, and they are offering THC blog readers a 10% course discount. Use code THC10%.

We at THC Primary Care used to run a Digital and Transformation Lead Course, but sadly, we do not run this anymore. But we do have a library of resources to support digital and transformation leads ⬇️.

Digital and Transformation Lead Resources

We hope this helps.

About the Author

Tara and Team THC provide project and network management and training to Primary Care Networks. Between our training programmes, facilitation and interim network programmes, we have now supported over 120 PCNs!

Tara has an MBA in Healthcare Leadership and Management, is published in the London Journal of Primary Care, is the author of over 250 blogs, and also hosts The Business of Healthcare Podcast, where we have released over 300 episodes.