November 2007 part 2

Dear All,

Last few days before we get into December and onto holiday mood and here is the latest informatics update from the RCN. For previous updates please see the Informatics section of the Information in Nursing community which is on the public side of the new RCN site and thus available even to non RCN members.

In the news

Government response to the Select Committee report on EPR can be found on the Department of Health website

Will We Ever Trust Electronic Patient Records? With recent events in the UK highlighting public concern over online fraud, new research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, has revealed that internet users will reveal more personal information online if they believe they can trust the organisation that requests the information. 56 percent of internet users stated that they have concerns about privacy when they are online. The central issue was whether websites were seen as particularly trustworthy – or untrustworthy – causing users to alter their behaviour. When a website is designed to look trustworthy, people are willing to accept privacy violations. But, the same actions by an untrustworthy site leads to people behaving in a much more guarded manner.

The project has targeted a number of groups who can benefit from the findings, including health professionals, higher education professionals and survey bodies. More information can be found on the author web-site

In the press

“Informatics competencies for nursing leaders”. by Westra-B; Delaney-C in Nursing-Outlook. 2007. Jul./Aug. 55(4). p210-1.
Abstract: The importance of nurse managers being competent in informatics in order to ensure that electronic health records and other major IT projects are properly implemented.

Information technology cannot guarantee patient safety De Wildt, N, S et al BMJ 2007;334:851-852
Human error and software inadequacy can combine to make drug doses calculated on hand held computers unreliable!

European Journal of ePractice: Call for papers: On 30 November 2007 ePractice.eu launches a peer-reviewed online publication which aims to reinforce the visibility of articles and professionals in eTransformation. The publication will promote the diffusion and exchange of good practice in eGovernment, eHealth and e-Inclusion and will be open access, free of charge to all readers. For further information please see www.epractice.eu/journal

New resources

Audit Commission: Improving information to support decision making: standards for better quality data. This paper presents a set of clear and concise standards, based on accepted good practice, which public bodies can adopt on a voluntary basis to improve the quality of the data they use for decision making. Please see the Audit Commission website for further information

The final report of the Scottish clinical template feasibility study is out - 'A national library of electronic clinical templates for nursing in the community'.

Organisational challenge for healthcare from telemedicine and eHealth New technology has been proposed to bring great change for our societies. In health care telemedicine was met with great enthusiasm and considered an enabler to overcome distance barriers. It is now clear that telmedicine does not spread like fire in dry grass. A more extensive use of telemedicine can imply advantages and some countries have invested much in technology. This publication shows organisational issues to be crucial for the future of telemedicine, and has two main points: identification of organisational problems and design of solutions to these problems. The organisational challenge for health care (PDF 695KB) is now available to download.

Which? Hospital companion: Information and advice to help with a stay in hospital (October 2007) (PDF 387KB). Interesting text with advice about questions to ask healthcare professionals including (limited) discussion about access to information.

Consultations

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): Review of pre-registration nursing. Online consultation available from 1 November 2007 to 8 February 2008. http://www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2641 HAVE YOUR SAY!