100 GP Surgeries Needed For Record Access Pilot, UK
Practices using EMIS clinical systems are being sought for the project, which is being run by the Record Access Collaborative - a group of practices, health professionals and patients dedicated to increasing patient access to medical records.
Surgeries that sign up to the pilot will use EMIS's Online Electronic Health Record Access system, which gives full medical record access from any internet-enabled PC with a web browser.
Dr Brian Fisher, whose Wells Park practice in Lewisham, London, has pioneered patient access to paper and electronic medical records, said: "About 20 practices in the collaborative have been leading the way on this, allowing patients to view their medical record online or by using a kiosk in the surgery waiting room. But we believe it's now time to establish a formal pilot to take things forward.
"To this end, the Record Access Collaborative is seeking 100 practices to take part in a demonstration which will help us develop the EMIS system so it delivers the maximum benefits for patients, GPs and practice staff. It's a unique opportunity to take part in a ground-breaking project."
Advice and information is being made available to practices that are interested in taking part - including an outline of some of the issues involved and guidance on how to manage and administer access.
Dr Fisher adds: "Ultimately this will deliver huge benefits to those in the medical profession and to patients. All the evidence suggests it has the potential to improve the doctor-patient relationship, provide reassurance, reduce the risk of error, and improve self-care and compliance.
"It encourages better communication between clinician and patient and increases patient satisfaction. From our initial testing of the idea we've found that patients feel they understand 70 per cent of what they read."
Practices also benefit as patients can look at their letters, results and immunisations without the need to contact a doctor or reception. EMIS also plans to develop the system so patients reading their record can be reminded to attend key appointments such as blood pressure or medication reviews.
Under the system, patients view the record using 'authenticated access' - which means access is strictly controlled by individual passwords and PINs. An additional security level - called a 'one-time use authentication token' - has also been developed and will be available for practices to use in the pilot.
Patients can view a summary of their most recent entries, details of consultations, diagnoses, investigations and procedures, results, vaccinations, medications and letters.
The easy-to-navigate system also includes links to NHS Direct Online, Patient UK and patient information leaflets so patients can find additional information about items in the record.
Dr Fisher said the Record Access Collaborative had already identified a number of potential safety or confidentiality issues - for example, records containing a third party reference or a piece of bad news that had not yet been broken to the patient. However, there were simple precautions that could be taken to avoid these risks.
He said that concerns around when children should have access also needed to be considered. Dr Fisher adds: "The establishment of this wider pilot represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to widen patient access to their medical records in a way that is user-friendly, safe and secure."
Anyone wishing to take part in the pilot should contact Brian Fisher at brian.fisher403@ntlworld.com or Rob Murgatroyd at EMIS at rob.murgatroyd@e-mis.com
-- Any GP practice using the EMIS PCS clinical system is invited to take part in the Record Access Collaborative Pilot. In addition, practices must have the EMIS Access system installed, as patient record access is made available through this.
-- Documentation supplied by the Record Access Collaborative can be used by practices to inform patients of the benefits and potential risks before signing up for access.
-- Patients who wish to proceed can then be signed up for the Online Electronic Health Record using the EMIS Access area of the EMIS clinical system. The passwords and PINs required for access will then be issued.
http://www.e-mis.com
100 gp chirurgicale necesare pentru a înregistra acces pilot, Marea Britanie - 100 GP Surgeries Needed For Record Access Pilot, UK - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate