Excellence in Healthcare Professional Education and Support Programmes

Summary of work

OptiMiSe for Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Nurses (MSSNs) is an innovative programme of practical learning, using proven behaviour-change methods to address barriers to optimal care for people with MS. Designed in collaboration with acknowledged leaders in the UK MS community, its aim is to take MSSNs on an education journey to equip them with the confidence, knowledge and skills to provide effective patient-centric care.

Winner of the PMEA award for Excellence in Professional Education and Support in 2017, we have no hesitation in again putting this programme forward in 2018 as a strong contender in the same category. Why? Because, with OptiMiSe now in its third year, we can demonstrate the impact of the programme on clinical practice, NHS performance and patient outcome measures. The 2017 outcomes audit showed a >90% increase in skills confidence mapped against the four principal programme objectives, and an average 38% change in clinical behaviour as a result. Key findings from 2018 demonstrate: improvements in patient consultations; increased numbers of documented care plans, scheduling of annual patient reviews and multidisciplinary team (MDT) review of caseloads; and a decrease in non-elective hospital admissions. For one centre, MSSN attendance at OptiMiSe meetings has resulted in local service improvements that correspond to £48,000 per-year cost savings.

Judges' comments

This year’s OptiMise entry showed the evolution of the programme from last year. It has a good focus on the MS community, sustaining the existing relationship. The materials were strong and backed up the project very well.