This section provides an overview of setting up regular reporting and programme evaluation during the implementation phase of a new HealthPathways programme.
At this stage, your team may be focussed on developing content (localisation). This is important, but it is also important to develop and maintain your engagement activities, and have an evaluation strategy to monitor performance.
This guide is only a suggestion – adapt this framework to meet your needs.
Build evaluation into your programme design. Plan your evaluation before beginning implementation to ensure the programme's expected outcomes are clearly defined and measurable.
When planning implementation, consider the effort and time frame required for evaluation and allocate adequate resourcing. This will help ensure that the evaluation findings are available when needed to support future decision-making.
Identify programme objectives, key questions, and KPIs
When planning your implementation evaluation, consider any governance requirements, programme objectives, and KPIs. Can your current regular data gathering activities adequately address these? Engage key stakeholders and keep them informed when determining and reviewing the programme outcomes and key questions.
Consider:
- Are the programme objectives being met?
- How is the programme tracking towards pathway development goals, e.g. localisations, reviews?
- Is site activity increasing?
- Has the implementation of HealthPathways been successful for:
- The programme team
- Clinicians
- The hospital system
- Patients
- The wider health system
- Is health professionals knowledge and use of, and engagement with HealthPathways increasing?
- Are there service redesign, clinical improvement, or localisation opportunities?
Effort required – capacity and capability
Consider how frequently you will evaluate your implementation, and the amount of effort and resourcing required. Does your team have the necessary capacity and capability to complete this work, considering other priorities such as localisation.
The regular reporting and implementation evaluation processes need to be manageable and not arduous, especially since your team will be focussed on localising and generating content in the early stages. Also, it is important not to neglect engagement and outreach activities.