Why Are GP Practices More Computerised Than Hospitals?
Scalability and incentives are suggested as the two key factors that explain why British GPs are far more likely to use a computer in the consulting room than their hospital-based colleagues. In a pair of papers published in the British Medical Journal, managing consultant, Tim Benson, reviews the development of computer systems in British healthcare. […]
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Computerised Guidelines Show No Effect on Asthma and Angina Management
Computerised, evidence-based guidelines showed no effect on the management of adult asthma and angina patients in primary care, according to a study conducted in 60 general practices in north east England. The study reported in the British Medical Journal was conducted by researchers from Newcastle, Aberdeen and City Universities. It was a pragmatic cluster randomised […]
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IT Competence Rising in the NHS
Rising levels of basic IT competence are recorded in 2002 National Health Informatics Competency Survey – but the NHSIA has warned there is no room for complacency. The survey shows that 33% of NHS staff judge themselves to be competent in basic IT – a significant leap up from the 14% figure recorded in the […]
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Mid-Cheshire Selects IMS Maxims
IMS Maxims plc has announced it has signed a contract for its care pathways and results reporting system to Mid-Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The initial five year contract will link five core specialties to the trust’s iSoft-supplied Patient Administration System (PAS) and form the basis for level 3 EPR throughout the Trust. The five-year contract […]
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Ultrasis Announces CalmHeart Sale
Ultrasis plc, the interactive healthcare company, has announced that it has secured an order for CalmHeart NSF, its NHSnet enabled clinical education product. The CalmHeart product is a patient focused interactive education and motivational tool for coronary heart disease. It is designed to help clinicians in the assessment, risk stratification and monitoring of patients. Ultrasis […]
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Newchurch Launches PCT IT Blueprint
Newchurch Ltd has launched what it describes as a technology blueprint to enable Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to implement integrated Primary and Community Care Electronic Patient Records (EPR). The health IT systems and consultancy firm says that the new blueprint will enable PCTs to build modular, integrated EPR systems in line with latest national guidance that […]
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Lancashire Selects Per-Se for Electronic Records
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has signed a deal with Per-Se Technologies Inc. to implement its Patient clinical information system. The electronic record system, which will first be implemented by the Lancashire trust, is expected to eventually form the basis for a regional integrated electronic record. The £8.3m contract represents Per-Se’s first sales of its […]
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Legionnaires’ in Cumbria: NHS Strategic Tracing System Helps Ease Public Fears
The latest version of the NHS Strategic Tracing System (NSTS) has played a key role in getting the results of Legionnaires’ Disease tests out to GPs and patients during the recent outbreak in Cumbria. Staff at Morecambe Bay Hospital NHS Trust, who have been delivering and co-ordinating medical care during the outbreak were able to […]
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European Doctors Taking Lead on Use of IT
General Practitioners in Scandinavia, Netherlands and UK are leading Europe in the use of IT at work, and in key areas such as use of electronic medical records European GPs has a significant lead over their US counterparts. The findings come from the latest research by Harris Interactive on e-health. It reports that medical practices […]
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Official Launch for NHS Broadband in Wales
The NHS took a step towards greater broadband access last week when Wales health minister, Jane Hutt, officially launched the roll-out of a broadband network which will link all the service’s organisations in the principality. Supplied and managed by BT, the service is up and running and delivering improved e-mail and web services. Within a […]
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