CSW Health , a provider of XML-based health information systems, has announced that it has successfully implemented its Case Notes e-records system at Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Trust.

The Case Notes system went live in Acute Medicine department of the trust in June, only 6 weeks after installation, and forms an important step in the trust’s electronic record development programme.

Coronary Heart Disease data and scanned ECG reports are already being transferred to the Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh EPR system to be viewed as electronic case notes. The system also holds diabetes records, pathology results, and patient alerts.

Philip Firth, IM&T strategy implementation manager at the Trust, stressed the low cost and rapid speed of application development using the modular Case Notes: “A solution for loading and presenting ECGs on the EPR system was specified, developed and passed to the clinicians for approval on the same day that the request was made."

He added that the development of electronic records was already delivering benefits. “Clinicians are impressed with the major reduction in the time it takes to get hold of the vital medical records and patient information they need. The EPR system not only speeds up the patient assessment and administrative processes, it could also prove to be life saving in emergency situations."

CSW Case Notes is an XML-based product suite that enables healthcare organisations to build e-Records from existing departmental systems, by integrating data into a flexible, secure and simple-to-use clinical repository.

The authorised clinical user, and even patients, can view relevant patient history, current treatments and planned activities from any browser-enabled device, such as a PC or handheld device.

Future EPR developments planned at the trust include implementing the CSW In-tray module, results reporting, order communications, integrated care pathways and solutions for discharge and consultant letters.