Patients across the Humber are benefiting from more joined-up healthcare thanks to the roll-out of a new initiative to share information between NHS providers.
Healthcare professionals can now see up-to-date information about their patients, even if they’ve been treated somewhere else.
That’s because the two main patient record systems used across the region (EMIS Web and SystmOne) are now working together for the first time to share information.
This improves the safety and the quality of care for people accessing a number of services, including out-of-hours GP appointments, community nursing and end-of-life care.
Dr Avinash Pillai, local GP and clinical lead for the project, said: “We are delighted to be the first region in the country to successfully link these two clinical systems. This not only improves the standard of care for our patients, but also makes better use of our clinicians’ time. It’s the first step towards a wider ambition to provide a fully-joined up digital care record across all health and social care providers.”
Dr Lucy Adcock, Medical Director at Lindsey Lodge Hospice in Scunthorpe, said: “We have many patients that come to us for just one day a week. So, if a patient has had an examination, or been prescribed a new medication by their GP, we’re now able to see that updated record next time they’re with us.
“This is incredibly helpful in a palliative (end-of-life) care setting, as lots of our patients experience memory issues and may not always be able to remember what their GP has recommended.”
Dr Tony Salisbury, one of the specialist doctors at St Andrew’s Hospice in Grimsby, said the integrated system had many benefits.
He said: “All users of the system agree that it is easy to access, and provides a brief summary of the key information that is needed.”
Dr John Parry, Clinical Director at TPP, said: “TPP are thrilled at the success of the deployment of the TPP-EMIS integration across Humber.
“By ensuring that our systems interoperate, we are supporting the Department of Health’s recently announced future technology vision, and leading the way towards connected and high-quality care across all sectors.”
Carol Waudby, Chief Operating Officer at City Health Care Partnership CIC in Hull, said: “The ability for clinicians, especially those working in urgent and unplanned care, to access the patient’s full clinical record, is key to the delivery of safe, effective and timely care.
“These initiatives are key to supporting real time sharing of key clinical information so that all clinicians consulting with patients can deliver the best possible care.
“For example, care provided by an out of hours GP can be informed by access to the full clinical record – in turn, the very next working day, the patient’s own GP can see exactly what care and support their patient has had during the out of hours period, regardless of their chosen electronic system.”
A short film has been produced to illustrate the benefits of the interoperability initiative. This can be viewed on YouTube here