Scotland

An e-Health programme that is patient-focused, clinically-led and benefits-driven

Heather Strachan, Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP) e-Health Lead, explains her role in leading nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to action in Scotland.

Information and communication technology (ICT) can enable integrated health care by supporting an exchange of information about the patient and linking the stages of the patient’s journey. Good information management is required for clinical decision making. By comparing practice against standards and targets, advancing clinical knowledge and improving performance, it becomes the “bridge” leading to better care.

Scotland’s national e-Health programme is focusing on delivering a comprehensive health information system built around the electronic health record (EPR). e-Health includes a wide range of ICT applications and uses, from health information on the Internet through to telehealth. All of these are in use in Scotland now, but not yet widely available.

NMAHP e-Health action plan makes explicit the contribution required by NMAHPs to ensure that the e-Health programme is patient-focused, clinically-led and benefits-driven.*

Significant progress is being made to address the four aims that guide the NMAHP action plan (PDF doc)

  1. Improve NMAHP ownership and engagement in e-Health
  2. build NMAHP e-Health capabilities through education and development
  3. use e-Health systems to advance knowledge management for NMAHPs
  4. deliver a “fit for purpose” infrastructure and workable solutions for NMAHPs.

The NMAHP e-Health Programme Board has active partnerships with the royal colleges and professional organisations to ensure professional requirements and the implications for e-Health are identified and addressed. Nurses and midwives are represented on project boards and are consulted throughout the procurement process to ensure that e-Health systems are fit for purpose.

This is both an exciting and challenging time for nurses and midwives, and their leadership and engagement in the National e-Health Programme in Scotland is both desirable and essential to ensure its success.

Contact: Heather Strachan, NMAHP e-Health Lead
Address: Room GE 01, St Andrews House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Email: heather.strachan@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

* Scottish Executive (2007). The NMAHP contribution to realising the benefits of the National e-Health Programme, Edinburgh: Scottish Executive (e-Health Division).