From data to decisions: embedding a Real-world Intervention Causal Evaluation (RICE) tool in the decision making process Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group
- Run by Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), in partnership with Liverpool City Council, Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Liverpool.
- Aimed to embed the use of causal evaluation evidence in commissioning and service redesign processes in order to improve health and social care in Liverpool.
- Developed a Real-world Intervention Causal Evaluation (RICE) tool, which semi-automates the process of intervention evaluation and significantly enhances analytical capability across the city.
- Ran from September 2019 to December 2020.
The Liverpool health and social care system is developing a person-centred model that matches effective service packages to population needs. To support this, a whole-population, person-level linked dataset that includes data flows for primary, secondary, community, mental health and adult social care, along with social prescribing data, has been built.
There is an urgent need to understand how to use these rich data to improve service design. This project, run by Liverpool CCG, aimed to meet this need by embedding the use of causal evaluation evidence in commissioning and service redesign processes.
A Real-world Intervention Causal Evaluation (RICE) tool was developed to semi-automate the process of intervention evaluation. The tool comprises a user interface, analytical engine and reporting module that allow rapid investigation of the impact of interventions using robust quasi-experimental methods.
This intervention has demonstrated a new, highly productive way of joint working between academia and the NHS. Embedding researchers within the NHS business intelligence function enabled analytics informed by the latest data science methods, and research addressing operational and strategic priorities for the local health system.
Establishing a pooled analytical resource across the CCG, City Council and University has transformed the way analytical capability is delivered within Liverpool and has contributed to several spin-off collaborative projects, including the formation of the Liverpool City Region Data Cooperative and CIPHA population management platform.
This project effectively showcased the potential for whole system, individually linked datasets to be used in ongoing evaluation. Moving forward, RICE methods will feed into a loop of continuous improvement interventions, such as Citizens Advice Ways to Wellbeing for All, helping to target appropriate resources to the right population groups within a learning health system.
Contact information
For more information about this project, please contact Helen Duckworth, Deputy Director of Planning, Performance and Delivery, Liverpool CCG.
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