Internet abuse rises among public sector workers
The Audit Commission has published a report into IT abuse in the public sector, revealing that 47% of reported cases of misuse involved accessing inappropriate material over the internet. The report, ‘ICT Fraud and Abuse 2004’, which covers NHS Trusts as well as police and local authorities, said that there was a sharp increase in people […]
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Kent uses telehealth for chronic disease support
Kent County Council has launched a series of telehealth and telecare initiatives, in what it claims makes it one of the leading local authority users of new technology. The countywide Kent Telehealth scheme is a partnership between Viterion in the USA and Kent County Council, with KCC providing £1m funding for a pilot project to […]
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This time it’s personal
Why do we need electronic health records, anyway? Gerry Yantis and Manuel Lowenhaupt of CapGemini argue that the challenges faced in implementing them shouldn’t detract from their importance.
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Counter fraud staff to gain right to access NHS records
Health Minister, Lord Warner today unveiled new powers that will provide NHS counter fraud staff with the power to demand access to NHS information, including patient records, held on paper or computer. Failure to comply would become a prosecutable offence. The proposed powers, which will require legislation, include a new right for the NHS Counter […]
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NHS close to signing new Microsoft deal
The NHS is on the brink of signing a new three-year corporate licensing agreement with Microsoft to provide desktop applications for the entire NHS. A National Programme for IT (NPfIT) spokesperson told E-Health Insider: "The National Programme for IT can confirm it has reached an agreement with Microsoft for the provision of desk-top licences, which […]
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Charing Cross introduces robotic drug dispensing
Two newly installed electronic dispensing systems at London’s Charing Cross Hospital, one of which uses robotics, are improving improving the speed and accuracy of dispensing on wards and in the hospital pharmacy. One system, dubbed Pollyanna, is a fully-automated pharmacy storage and dispensing computer. Staff input the drug name and dosage from the paper-based prescription, and a […]
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New report sets out need for e-prescribing
A new report from the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer on the causes of medicines safety has spelt out the critical role that electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems can play in reducing medication errors. ‘Building a Safer NHS for Patients: Improving Medication Safety’ describes standards of prescribing in the NHS as high. However, it stresses mistakes can arise […]
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NHS IT Investment Still Being Diverted
A new report by the Audit Commission concludes that more than half of all NHS trusts in England have diverted ‘hypothecated’ investment money away from projects such as new computer systems, to meet pressing operational requirements and plug financial deficits. While painting a fairly upbeat picture of progress to date towards NHS modernisation objectives the […]
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Poor IT Systems Contributing to NHS Waiting List Errors
Poor IT systems have been identified by the Audit Commission as a contributory factor leading to errors in waiting list statistics. The finding shows the impact that the NHS’s legacy of IT underinvestment is having on waiting lists – the government’s highest profile target for service improvement. Reports of the commission’s widely publicised bulletin on […]
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Multilex Announces Enhanced Sensitivity Checking
First DataBank Europe , the provider of point-of-care databases has launched Enhanced Sensitivity Checking as a new feature of its Multilex Drug Data File Multilex DDF). The new feature offers a more sophisticated way to highlight potential drug – patient sensitivity safety issues to clinicians, a key requirement in reducing medication errors. Previously, within electronic […]
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