| If you've any medical treatment recently, then | | | | care. |
| you can't hep but have noticed that there is more | | | | 6. The GP2GP Programme is for transferring |
| technology being used to improve the services | | | | patient medical records to a new doctor. This is |
| offered for patients. It's all part of the Connecting | | | | much quicker and more accurate than waiting for |
| For Health programme, and is making a big | | | | paper based medical records to arrive. The new |
| difference to all concerned. | | | | doctor will needs the patient's full medical history |
| Here's what you need to know. | | | | before they are seen for the first time, and it will |
| 1. The Choose and Book system allows patients a | | | | also highlight any issues such as allergies, or |
| choice of times and medical centres for their | | | | current medication. |
| treatments. This makes it much more convenient | | | | 7. Health Informatics is the collection of data and |
| for patients, and reduces the number of patients | | | | information, using knowledge, skills and tools, to |
| who fail to attend appointments. | | | | support healthcare and promote health. This helps |
| 2. The Personal Demographic Service is being | | | | to ensure that records are accurate, and that IT |
| introduced to replace the many NHS databases | | | | as used effectively to provide better patient care. |
| that currently store patient demographics details. | | | | 8. NHSmail is the email system for NHS staff. It's |
| This database won't store sensitive or medical | | | | secure, so can be used to share patient |
| records, and will be up to date and any changes | | | | information, and provides a single email address |
| will be seen immediately. This means that | | | | that can be transferred to different jobs or |
| information is available quicker, and provides | | | | departments. In addition it offers calendar, fax |
| better communication and there's less risk of | | | | and SMS facilities, as well as the contact details |
| duplication. | | | | for all the 1m plus NHS staff. |
| 3. There are over 1.3 million prescriptions issued | | | | 9. The Picture Archiving and Communicating |
| every working day, and this figure is rising by | | | | System, PACS, is the electronic storage of |
| around 5% per year. This involves a lot of | | | | images such as X rays and ultrasounds. These |
| paperwork, and writing. The Electronic Prescription | | | | images can be shared quickly and easily between |
| Service provides a quicker and more accurate | | | | hospitals or other healthcare professionals who |
| way of dispensing medicine, and gives patients a | | | | need to see them. Because they are electronic, |
| choice of pharmacy to collect their prescription | | | | these images can be duplicated instantly, won't be |
| from., improve service for all | | | | lost, and save on storage space and resources, |
| 4. NHS staff in similar roles around the country | | | | and offers a better patient experience. |
| can share their experiences and knowledge, | | | | 10. Electronic Health records mean an end to |
| quickly and easily, using eSpace. This is a | | | | paper based medical records, and so patient |
| knowledgebase type system that can be | | | | information can be updated immediately, and will |
| searched to quickly find a solution, without needing | | | | be accurate. In addition, like PACS, there will be |
| to carry out further research, or wait for results. | | | | less storage resources required for these |
| 5. The Essential IT Skills, EITS, programme | | | | electronic patient records. |
| provides training so that NHS staff have the IT | | | | Now you know more about Connecting for |
| skills they need. The training course and | | | | Health, and how it's improving the NHS, you're |
| qualifications are recognised by the British | | | | sure to see it in action the next time you need |
| Computer Society, and will help staff to more | | | | medical attention. |
| effective, and provide quicker and better patient | | | | |