What is a Network?
In Hero, a Network is a collection of practices. For example, a PCN might comprise a PCN Hubsite, plus 3 constituent GP practices - together they would be a single Network within Hero.
Why would I use the Network feature?
Networks allow you to join together to collaborate with your partner providers in delivering patient care.
Through Hero, Networks are currently useful for cross-organisational booking. You can invite your patients to book into slot types that have been made available by Network sites. For example:
Example: A PCN hubsite creates a network between itself, and its 3 constituent GP practices. Let's call this the "Hero Network".
Within their Hero appointment settings, the PCN hubsite can then select to make their 'Enhanced Access' appointment type visible to the Hero Network of practices.
The GP practices can then use Hero to invite patients to book the 'Enhanced Access' appointment. This can be done when selecting the self-booking link location in either individual or batch messaging.
The booking will pass into the PCN hubsite's EMIS or Systm1 appointment book.
How do I setup a Network?
In Hero's Settings, you can find 'Networks'. You can then create a new network, and add practices based on their ODS code. You can also view Networks you are already in, and choose to leave these Networks should you wish.
Whilst you can be added to a Network without direct input, a practice won't be able to interact with you or see your data without additional approvals.
For example, for a practice to issue self-booking links that book into your practice, you will first have to choose to make appointment types visible to the Network.
What else can I do with Networks?
At the time of writing (February 2024), patient-led cross-organisational booking is our sole Networks functionality. However, over the course of 2024 we are looking to expand cross-organisational working, leveraging the Networks concept, to include sharing of Care Navigations across Networks and Admin-led booking across Networks.