Primary care IT supplier TPP has begun to pilot electronic discharge summaries between a GP practice and hospital in north Yorkshire.
The East Parade Surgery in Harrogate is linking up with Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust and receiving electronic discharge summaries directly into SystmOne.
NHS North Yorkshire and York said the practice has already started receiving discharge summaries and letters from some consultants electronically, and the hospital is encouraging all its consultants and medical secretaries to use the new system.
Angela Wood, assistant director of IM&T at NHS North Yorkshire and York, said the pilot was a significant development which would pay dividends for both clinical workflow and patient care once wider roll-out takes place.
She added: “A roll-out of SystmOne to community services is currently in the planning stage, but as those services start to use SystmOne the benefits of being able to view electronic discharge summaries within the patient’s record will not only improve communication but will also support the delivery of quality care.”
Elaine Turner, practice manager at East Parade Surgery, said it was early days for the pilot but that the benefits of receiving discharge summaries electronically were already apparent.
She added: “It’s far easier and quicker for GPs to access information when they need it. Information governance is also a key aspect as a complete audit trail is available for each discharge summary.”
Link: TPP