Uniting Health & Leisure: A Recap of ReferAll's Webinar

Stuart is the Founder and Managing Director for ReferAll. With over thirty years of experience in the health, exercise and physical activity sector, he has a strong social objective and a passion for improving health outcomes through coordinated and evidence-based services.

Here is a summary of the expert advice we shared about bringing together health and leisure, covering all the important details you should know. Whether you were unable to attend or just need a refresher, sit back, relax, and take a walk-through into the world of streamlined health referral monitoring.

But why does this matter? Well, imagine you are a community wellbeing professional overseeing a client's journey or an entire service, from referral to results and beyond. With traditional methods, it can be like ground-hog day. Once you’ve completed your initial consultation with a client you then had to walk to reception to enter the member's details again into Gladstone. But with our must-have digital integration, amazingly the path is clear and the client journey is trackable from the word go! It is not just about convenience; it is about transforming the way you deliver professional wellbeing services.

Bridging the Gap

Here are several key points that are essential for bridging the gap between health and leisure services: 

• Unifying health and leisure: Traditionally, health-related programmes were seen as separate from leisure operations, often relegated to the back-office. I emphasised the importance of integrating these services to maximise their impact.
• Self-referral options: Offering self-referral options empowers individuals to access health-related programmes directly, bypassing the need for healthcare professional referrals, which can often lead to long waiting times. Once a referral is received, if further information is required from the patient’s GP or physio, this can be requested but you can start supporting the client in the meantime.
• National health strategies: Understanding and aligning with national health strategies, such as the Department of Health and Social Care's Long-Term Condition Strategy, can help guide the development and focus of health-related programmes.
• Partner-led approach: Tackling long-term health conditions requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including government bodies, healthcare professionals, social care providers, and industry partners.
• Community engagement: Utilising community spaces and resources, such as leisure facilities, for health-related programmes can help bridge the gap between health and leisure services, and promote community wellbeing.
• Data and evidence: Tracking uptake and completion rates of health-related programmes is crucial for demonstrating their effectiveness and gaining support from stakeholders, including potential funding partners.
• Focus on uptake and completion: High uptake and completion rates of health-related programmes are key metrics for success, as they indicate the programme's ability to engage and benefit participants.
• Positive outcomes: Even small improvements in wellbeing, such as increased self-confidence or improved mood, can have significant positive impacts on individuals' overall health and reduce the strain on healthcare resources.

Vision's Success With ReferAll

I highlighted Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure, a customer who have been using ReferAll for 10 years. Vision demonstrates their success by utilising to the minute data and combining that with their understanding of reports to secure continued funding from different partners such as Redbridge Public Health and the North East London Health & Care Partnership, as well as Vision directly funding the rehabilitation programmes.

Digital Integration

The webinar also delved into the details of how the digital integration works. From initial referral to ongoing monitoring, it is simple yet effective, and a significant change for anyone looking to streamline their processes and save precious time.

Lastly Jerry Saddington, our very own Sales & Account Manager, took the virtual stage to talk specifics. He walked attendees through the seamless integration of our software, making it easier than ever to monitor health-related referrals from start to the membership journey. It is not just a tool; it is a lifeline for leisure and fitness providers to prove social prescribing and exercise referral programmes are not just a ‘nice to have’ but a ‘must have'!

To sum up

So, there you have it, folks! A whirlwind tour of the power of our combined digital integration in health referral schemes. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes into the world of digital health monitoring and outcome recording, there is something here for every provider.

And if you missed the webinar, fear not! Catch up on it here or head to Gladstone's Marketplace to find out more.