An advisory group has been set up to help NHS organisations
developing electronic patient records (EPR) systems.
Members of the health service's Electronic Record Development and
Implementation Programme (ERDIP) created the group to encourage a
common set of solutions by endorsing available standards and
methods.
Wrongly transcribed information on blood groups or drug allergies
could lead to fatalities, so it's crucial that EPR is correctly
implemented. The NHS IT strategy, published in September 1998,
requires acute hospitals to have basic level of EPR by 2005.
This deadline for EPR has been called into question. Accurately
transcribing patient data from cards onto computers will be a
substantial job, and the issue of privacy is also a real stumbling
block.
The Electronic Records Technical Advisory Group's (ERTAG) functions
will include giving quality assurance to solutions offered to
ERDIP; ensuring that advice is taken up; acting as the repository
for all positive and negative experiences arising out of the ERDIP
programme; and working with the Standards Information Service to
identify areas where there is an absence of standards or
policy.
Murray Bywater, managing director at Silicon Bridge Research, an IT
health market research consultancy, believes the creation of ERTAG
could prove to be a double-edged sword, however.
"It will be good for those implementing EPR to be advised on
standards and best practice, this is the most important EPR issue,"
he said. "However, we are heading for a global standard in
healthcare and the NHS must ensure that any standards are in the
context of the world picture. Setting new standards away from
global thinking would just not work."
The creation of ERTAG comes as Kettering General Hospital in
Northamptonshire announced a 10-year deal to replace its current
information systems.
After a four-year tendering process, Australian company IBA
Healthcare, a technology pioneer in e-health, has signed a £7.5m
contract to install an Integrated Clinical Information System that
will help create an EPR system.
Kettering is set to be among the first NHS Trusts to meet the NHS's
2005 target for joined-up IT.