Computer Sciences Corporation has signed an
agreement with Canadian-based Medusa Medical Technologies to equip
ambulances in the North, Midlands and East of England with Medusa’s
Siren electronic patient-care reporting (ePCR) and
data-management software.
This software will enable NHS Ambulance Trusts to capture an
expected 5 million patient records each year.
The
NHS’ National Programme for IT (NPfIT) aims to provide a single
electronic patient record for each person in England, and is being
delivered by CSC as the local service provider for 60% of the
country.
With the addition of Medusa’s Siren ePCR product to CSC’s
software already available to general practices and hospitals,
paramedics in as many as 2,600 ambulances will be able to move from
paper-based reporting to electronic reporting.
Once CSC has integrated Medusa’s software with its other
systems, paramedics will be able to access relevant information
from a
patient’s record - such as blood pressure and ECG results - to
determine the best course of treatment.
This data, coupled with the results of any interventions
administered at the scene, will then be transmitted ahead to an
accident and emergency unit, providing hospital clinicians with a
complete picture of the patient’s history.
To date, more than 1,000 paramedics and support staff in the
North, Midlands and East of England have been trained to use
paperless technology.
“This system allows us to capture quickly and accurately far
more information than we ever could on paper,” said Dr John Scott,
medical director for the East of England Ambulance Trust.
“That information is then instantly available to the emergency
department and clinical audit staff. As a result, the potential to
improve patient outcomes is tremendous,” said Scott.
The overall new patient record system is currently behind
schedule, with CSC
software provider iSoft facing bankruptcy.
CSC posts preliminary results >>
CSC to cut 5000 jobs as it goes up for sale >>
iSoft sues CSC over acquisition stance >>
iSoft puts CSC legal action on ice >>
Medusa’s Siren
electronic patient-care reporting >>
Computer Sciences Corporation
>>
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