Early plans for the roll out of individual health record approved
Published: 12 January 2009
Information will help clinicians speed up diagnosis
Plans to roll-out a system that will enable clinicians in hospital emergency departments and out-of-hours GPs to have access to important patient information to help with diagnosis and treatment have been approved by Health Minister Edwina Hart today [Wednesday, 7 January].
The extension of the Individual Health Record follows a successful pilot with the GPs out-of-hours service and medical admissions unit in Gwent.
The £4.7million Assembly Government-funded scheme allows doctors, nurses and pharmacists to view, with the patient’s permission, a copy of the information on their medical record, held by their GP.
Initially, the information will be shared between local GP surgeries and local unscheduled care providers. This Individual Health Record includes details of the patient’s current medication and conditions, major health conditions, allergies, immunisations or vaccinations as well as blood pressure and test results.
This will mean, for example, that if a patient had an accident, a clinician could have access to their information, with the patient’s consent, at the touch of a button.
An evaluation of the pilot found that clinicians using this information find the Individual Health Record invaluable in helping them make an informed decision on how to treat their patient.
This is particularly helpful for older patients and those with long-term conditions.
Informing Healthcare will now prepare a final business case for the roll out for the Health Minister’s consideration.