How the UK emergency services can implement digital solutions

How the UK emergency services can switching to digital

In an industry as fast-paced, high pressure and high stakes as the emergency services it’s imperative that all the systems that go on behind the scenes from fire and rescue to the police services are as streamlined and efficient as possible. In a report published by McKinsey & Company it stated that implementing digital tools in the emergency services could reduce fatalities by 8–10 percent, accelerate emergency response times by 20–35 percent, shave the average commute by 15–20 percent, lower the disease burden by 8–15 percent, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10–15 percent, among other positive outcomes.

Digital transformation in the emergency services is something that has been implemented on a phased basis over the last number of years, (and of course accelerated by the pandemic) but budget constraints have slowed down this implementation. Proper funding of digital transformation is an investment in the future of the emergency services and public safety. Here’s how the UK emergency services switch to digital and electronically stored information can be made simpler.   

Make the most of smart integrations 

In 2021, the NHS announced the roll out of 30,000 iPads to ambulance crews across England, an initiative which would speed up response times and improve patient experience and provide access to electronic information like health records. This technology allows emergency services to access all of their information and medical records safely from one place, on one device. DocuSign products can be integrated with a series of other systems such as MS Office, G Suite, Oracle BI and Concur.

With its simple interfaces, clear instructions and one-click consent to standard terms functionality, DocuSign eSignature can give emergency service staff peace of mind when working with electronically stored information knowing that our products meet the most stringent UK, EU and global security standards including compliance with the eIDAS regulation.

Reduce time, speed and paper 

Additionally, DocuSign eSignature would allow the emergency services to execute contracts and access critical patient information faster, allowing them to respond to emergencies with speed. Outdated IT infrastructures and work practices mean a great deal of money is spent annually on paper, as well as the manual processing of documents. Minimising time spent on paper-based patient information couldn’t be simpler while also reducing resource, postage and other costs. In fact, when agreements are sent using DocuSign eSignature, up to 80% of them are completed in less than a day and 44% in less than 15 minutes.

DocuSign digital solutions are tailored to help public sector departments execute contracts and agreements with ease, while at the same time making security of individual data and identity a priority. The continued use of digital services and EHR systems can also directly help to reduce the reliance on paper usage within an operation, supporting sustainability reforms and reducing ongoing costs. To date, DocuSign and its customers have saved more than 6 million trees, 55 billion sheets of paper, 22 billion litres of water and eliminated more than 2 billion kgs of waste - purely by embracing digital agreement activities.

DocuSign eSignature is often seen as the first step on any public sector digital transformation journey. It seamlessly overcomes the barriers that prevent employees, and their clients, from being able to quickly and securely act and respond to any given contractual situation – all with speed, relative ease and improved patient safety.