Secure email for health unscrambles new markets
Kodak’s Secure Email System (SES), which up until now has been used solely in healthcare, has been made available to other markets following a deal with software developer Cephire Technologies. The software is currently in use in the US and Europe in hospitals for the exchange of images and patient information between healthcare professionals and […]
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MRSA reporting to be improved by electronic lab link
Long-standing data quality problems with recorded occurrences of MRSA may be improved by the introduction of electronic incident reporting systems in laboratories, rather than focusing on trying to improve the current paper-based incident reporting that relies on the postal system, E-Health Insider has learned. Mandatory reporting is already undertaken by trusts, which send aggregated details of incidents to […]
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Electronic hospital prescribing brought forward to 2006
Health Minister Lord Warner is to fast-track the introduction of electronic hospital prescribing in response to the recent report by National Cancer Director, Professor Mike Richards. Professor Richards’ report stated that cancer drugs recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) are often unavailable in certain areas of the UK, and blames lack of […]
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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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Don’t forget IT input when planning PACS
Beware of overlooking vital IT input when planning a new digital picture archiving and communications system (PACS), the UK Radiology Congress heard this week. A guide to some of the IT elements that can be forgotten – and some of the implementation techniques that work – was provided for the UK Radiological Congress in Manchester by […]
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New national audit rolls out for head and neck cancers
A new audit system for head and neck cancers started its roll-out this week in Greater Manchester, Humberside, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire and North Trent. The NHS Information Authority (NHSIA), which devised the audit system for the NHS’s new regulator, the Healthcare Commission, says it is the first time that electronic collection of information about […]
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Parliamentary briefing paper sets out challenges for NPfIT
A new parliamentary briefing paper on the National Programme for IT has highlighted stakeholder involvement, communications, "imposing change on a highly devolved NHS", and the complexity of the programme each as potential areas of concern for the success of the project. ‘New NHS IT’ a Parliamentary briefing note prepared by the Parliamentary Office of Science […]
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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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Renal Services NSF information strategy published
The Department of Health has published its information strategy to help support delivery of the National Service Framework (NSF) for renal services. Local Service Providers (LSPs) and the National Application Service Provider providing the Data Spine project will have a central role to play in ensuring the success of the strategy. The new information strategy […]
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Research points to serious issues in EPR acceptability
A group of researchers at the University of Brighton spent two years looking at how electronic patient records were developed, implemented and used in maternity services. They summarise the findings below. ‘Few would dispute that the vision for the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) is acceptable. The majority of clinicians and clients would welcome the use […]
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