FAQs: Using APEX
Please view our collection of frequently asked questions during training and via our support desk. If you wish to discuss any of your queries in further detail, please open a ticket here. You can also join our Facebook User Group for further information and advice.
How should I use Apex?
Enterprise: why is there no data/why does the data not look how I expect?
Once your Enterprise organisation has been established and after you have logged in and accepted the DPA, there is some initial set up required that involves requesting data from the viewing organisations who have accepted data sharing. Please view this article for more information.
Enhanced Access: what if my PCN's EA appointments are delivered through a hub environment?
If your hub delivered EA appointments are recorded within an appointment book, we can complete an additional installation of Apex to stream from this instance of the clinical system. The Apex hub organisation can then link services to Enterprise/report on hub utilisation similarly to a practice organisation. This supports Enterprise custom reporting of EA activity across the whole PCN/Enterprise. Contact deployment@edenbridgehealthcare.com if you wish to discuss installing Apex for your hub, as well as referencing the below article.
Views from Enhanced Access Services Enhanced Access Reporting for PCNs & Enterprise
Views from Enhanced Access Services Enhanced Access Reporting for PCNs & Enterprise
Does this link in with telephone/triage systems to measure demand or is it measuring the capacity of appointments/workforce?
Apex can extract information from your clinical system on appointments and consultations, but we have also had discussions surrounding our interoperability with telephony systems as an additional data source. If you would like any further information, please do contact us on support@edenbridgehealthcare.com
A number of 'encounters' are just admin entries. Does it exclude these?
Apex can be configured within our Patient Interaction settings to allow you to define which encounters you wish to contribute to the figures in the dashboards.
We all work in very different ways, so how "customisable" is all this? What if my data quality is an issue?
We can create custom searches of appointment data based on our Service configuration, as well as defining Mode of Contact, and which encounter entries involve patient interactions. There are other baselining methods and adjustments we can apply, and we ensure to cover this customisation during the early stages of training. As the data is sourced within the clinical system also, we have seen a number of positive use cases surrounding the improvement of data quality based on the increased visibility Apex can offer. Please view the below useful links for further information of Apex configuration:
We have just launched Klinik as a total triage for the surgery. Is there a way for Apex to link with other platforms or is the data only streamed from the clinical system?
Apex is not currently interoperable with Klinik and the data presented is primarily based on how activity is captured within EMIS/SystmOne. We can utilise the service/encounter configuration to support with analytics. Please view the below useful links for further information of Apex configuration:
Can I see data on high frequency attenders and patients who repeatedly miss their appointments?
The Reattendance and DNA reports found within the Productivity & QI tab can be viewed based on repeat utilisation of particular Services and session holders. Please click here to learn more about how this is configured.
Can we compare this data with other surgeries or national averages?
Apex does present comparisons for practice sizes and growth rate but we do not provide any benchmarking at a practice level for appointment activity, access, etc.
What if I need to report on activity that isn't in my appointment book?
The Code Analysis report found in Productivity & QI may support with understanding activity that does not take place within slot types; this can offer analytics associated with certain coding. The Clinical Activity dashboard found in Access & Demand may also support with reporting on encounter types, referrals, medication issues, etc. Please see the below useful links for this:
Code Analysis Reporting | Additional Winter Demand Example
Code Analysis Reporting | Additional Winter Demand Example
Service building: why can I see session holders that don't work for me anymore, and slot types I don't use anymore?
Apex pulls through historic appointment data to allow you to retrospectively report on access for comparative reasons if you wish. Of course, this is within the context of local ways of working that may change over time so you can always apply this understanding and build services that allow you to report from a particular date that may give you a clean baseline reporting period, if that would be more relevant for you.
How is the appointment duration/length calculated?
Appointment duration data can be found by navigating to Access & Demand > Patient Activity. This is measured based on timed sessions only and is based on the time from when the patient is sent in to left.
Is it possible to include chronic pain and dependence forming medication use as part of the Clinician Appraisal report? These are often the more time consuming.
To view activity that isn't a metric available within certain dashboards and reports, you can utilise the Code Analysis report if the activity associated with a specific SNOMED code. The Code Analysis report will allows you to search specific SNOMED code(s) to see related activity including a user breakdown. Please click here to learn more.
How can you export the data?
There are certain elements of the system that can be exported to PDF, as well as individual graphs that allow you to export the data behind them. We are currently working on making this consistent across all areas of the system. In the meantime, we see lots of users simply utilise the Snipping Tool to custom screenshot the graph or breakdown they need.
If I disagree with the data in Apex, what do I do?
We are eager to support with identifying the cause of any potential discrepancies and we can mostly resolve this by reviewing the Apex configuration. Please view these below useful articles for support with configuration and if this does not resolve your query, please open a ticket with our Support team.
Roughly how long does it take to configure Apex for a practice to begin using it?
The deployment of Apex begins with the installation of Apex which takes around 20 minutes. Once the data has streamed, commissioning can be done in less than an hour to begin viewing the analytics. Please click here to learn more about what to expect when getting Apex.
Can Apex help with understanding if some incorrect codes being used?
We will be receive all SNOMED coding via the data extraction from your clinical system. If you are aware of the particular SNOMED codes that aren't desirable, you can search these within Code Analysis to review any trends in this. Please view the below useful links on clinical data within Apex and the Code Analysis report.
What does Apex look like for PCN? Can we see a PCN view as well as individual practice data too?
PCN/Enterprise Apex looks very similar to practice Apex and contains an aggregate version of many of the reports. Please click here for further information.
Please note: access to PCN Apex does not by default also grant you access to the full practice system. This would need to be granted by users of the practice - please click here for more information on users and permissions.
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