| If you've heard of the NHS National Programme | | | | needs to know what surgery a patient has |
| for IT, then you might be wondering what it is, | | | | recently had, or a doctor might want to know |
| and what it means for you. Here's what you need | | | | what medication a patient is taking after dental |
| to know. | | | | work. In addition, when a patient moved to a |
| 1. The NPfIT is a huge IT programme with the | | | | different doctors surgery, their records can be |
| aim of joining up different healthcare providers | | | | sent and received in seconds, rather than weeks. |
| within the NHS, in order to ensure that patients | | | | 7. It's possible for a patient's history to be |
| have more choice, and better care. In addition, | | | | accessed anywhere, so if they need to be |
| there will be many benefits for medical and NHS | | | | treated in a different hospital in a different region, |
| staff too. | | | | they can be, quickly and safely. Knowing about |
| 2. Thanks to better communication and | | | | allergies and previous conditions can make a big |
| technology, the NHS will be able to allow patients | | | | difference to both patients and medical staff. |
| to choose where they want their treatment, and | | | | 8. The introduction of more technology, and |
| when. This will help to ensure that patients get | | | | better practices means that that the NHS is |
| the treatment they need, and reduce the number | | | | saving time, so that more time can be spent |
| of broken or missed appointments. | | | | treating patients, and ensuring that they are |
| 3. One of the main benefits is the introduction of | | | | getting the care and attention they need. |
| electronic medical records. These will help ensure | | | | 9. As well as saving time, the NHS is also saving |
| that patient records are accurate and up to date. | | | | money, by making better use of technology. |
| Less time will need to be spent updating records, | | | | Improved communication, and using electronic |
| and there will be no need to ensure that doctor's | | | | patient health records helps is just one of the |
| writing is legible. | | | | ways that costs can be dramatically reduced. This |
| 4. As they are computerised, electronic health | | | | means that there are more funds for treating |
| records require less storage space, and there is | | | | patients. |
| no chance of records going missing, or getting lost | | | | 10. although many of the benefits of the NPfIT |
| on their way to and from hospital departments. | | | | are not immediately noticeable to patients, the |
| 5. In addition to introducing electronic patient | | | | fact that there is more choice, and better |
| records, images such as X Rays and ultrasounds | | | | communication between departments, and |
| can also be stored electronically. This means that | | | | healthcare professionals means that patients are |
| they are instantly accessible and retrievable. They | | | | getting a much better standard of care when |
| will also last forever, and have far less storage | | | | they need it most. |
| requirements. | | | | Now you know more about the NPfIT, whether |
| 6. Thanks to modern technology, the NPfIT allows | | | | you're a health professional or a patient, you'll |
| patient history to be shared between | | | | benefit from the improved services of the NHS. |
| departments as necessary. Perhaps a dentist | | | | |