Nurses get wireless access to cancer records
The Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Merseyside, has installed a wireless nursing information system that allows bedside access to patient records. The system, from IMS MAXIMS, makes a large amount of data available to nurses through computer terminals and a wireless connection. All clinicians using the system can access it through a security key and update […]
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Patient and clinical advisory boards to be replaced
A new Care Record Development Board (CRDB) is to be created to help ensure NHS IT helps deliver better patient care. The new body will replace the National Programme for IT’s Patient Advisory Board (PAB) and National Clinical Advisory Board (NCAB). The CRDB will be chaired by Harry Clayton the Department of Health’s director for […]
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Radical Steps highlights serious concerns about NPfIT
The National Programme for IT is still failing to communicate what it will deliver, when it will deliver, and what the cost to local NHS organisations will be. In addition, few staff fully understand what the claimed clinical or business benefits of new systems procured will be, and clinical consultation on systems specifications remains limited. […]
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Nurses in the dark on IT developments, survey reveals
UK nurses are generally positive about NHS IT developments, but over three quarters have received little or no information about them, a survey conducted by Nursix for the Royal College of Nursing reveals. Alison Kitson, executive director nursing, at the RCN, said: "Clearly nurses can see huge improvements in patient care with the introduction of […]
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Healthcare IT awards finalists announced
IT applications in a wide variety of healthcare settings are represented by seven finalists for the 2004 Healthcare IT Effectiveness Awards announced this week. The finalists, drawn from around the country will compete for four awards covering: best use of IT in secondary and tertiary care; best use of IT in primary and community care; […]
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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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Technology can reduce or create medication errors
Technology has the potential both to reduce and to create new types of medication errors – and should be implemented with care, according to a national report from the US Pharmacopeia. The MEDMARX report analysing medical errors reported in 2002 shows that computer entry problems accounted for 10.3% of all the “causes of […]
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Internet has blown away library walls
The Internet has blown away the walls of libraries as effectively as Semtex, Dr Muir Gray, director of the National electronic Library for Health, told a conference of NHS IT and informatics professionals in London this week. But the new online world leaves those seeking information about health with a choice of literally thousands of […]
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Patients positive on ICRS but worried about security
Patients are positive about the government’s planned Integrated Care Records Service (ICRS), but cautious about security issues and unhappy about the idea of people outside a close circle of trusted NHS staff having access to their records. The findings come from extensive qualitative and quantitative research conducted by independent market rearchers for the Consumers Association […]
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Wirral Connects to Online Bed Vacancy Service
Wirral residents and care homes are set to benefit from a new online service designed to simplify the process of locating suitable residential care beds and help reduce one of the causes of bed blocking in hospitals. The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is set to begin using an online and email bed vacancy service, called […]
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