Implementing the shared EPR in the Netherlands
An overview of the Dutch approach to nationwide accessibility of
patients’ medical records from Ellen Maat, Head of the country’s ICT
in Healthcare Programme. ABSTRACT
The Dutch Government is working alongside parties in the healthcare sector
to create a national system for the secure and reliable electronic exchange
of patients’ medical information. Based on the architectural design and the
accompanying specifications for ICT in healthcare, suppliers are expected to
incorporate the required functions into the systems used by healthcare
providers.
The Netherlands has opted for an incremental development of the shareable
electronic patient record. The system will eventually comprise various
applications connected to the national infrastructure. The first two
applications are the electronic medication record (EMR) and the electronic
general practitioner’s record (EGPR) for the use of locum GPs. During the
next six months, proof-of-concept trials of the national ICT system will
take place. Thereafter, the EMR and EGPR will be implemented in 11 pilot
environments. The national rollout of these two applications will commence
in the second quarter of 2007. Br J Healthcare Comput Info Manage
2006; 23(5): 13–15. |
