Northern Ireland
Workshop to identify e-Health priorities
Mike Dunne, the IN Forum Committee representative for Northern Ireland, tells us about a workshop to identify e-Health priorities in Northern Ireland.
According to a University of Ulster news release, the Northern Ireland health care sector Information Technology needs a complete overhaul.
This was in response to a research study, Knowledge, skill and attitude of NI DHSSPS Healthcare professionals towards information and communication technology: report of a Northern Ireland survey, Belfast: DHSSPS (2007) by Sinclair M et al (PDF Doc, 309K) which assessed health and social care professionals’ knowledge of, skills in and attitudes towards information and communication technology.
The findings indicated that health care workers are aware of the need for effective team working and the value of appropriate communication between professionals. It is also acknowledged that clinical information needs to be brought together in one easily accessible electronic patient record.
Sinclair et al state that strategic planning is required to ensure staff are adequately trained and ready for an increasingly technological age. It is therefore timely that a workshop is planned for this spring in Northern Ireland.
The aim of the workshop is to identify priority e-Health nursing issues so that nurses will have systems which are fit for purpose and will support them to deliver care in an advancing technological age. This is only a starting point for the profession in Northern Ireland with many further challenges ahead.
If you would like more information on the spring event, email: michael.dunne@westerntrust.hscni.net