EMIS pilots GP remote access to records
GP system supplier EMIS has begun piloting remote access for GPs to
their patients’ records via BlackBerry internet-enabled mobile phones.
The new system, ‘GP Access’, will give GPs on the move access to
medical records, initially on a read-only basis, while away from the
surgery.
Until now, doctors making unplanned home visits and those providing
out-of-hours cover have either had no access to patients’ records, or
access to summaries only, which may not show current medication. Now,
thanks to GP Access, GPs will be able to go online using their
BlackBerry and read any of their own patients’ medical records while
away from their surgeries.
Dr Brian Fisher, a south London GP and a founder of Patient Access to
Electronic Record System (PAERS), which helped develop GP Access, said
he believed the service would significantly improve safety for patients
and make doctors’ lives a lot easier. “Having secure access to our
patients’ full records at any time, in any location, will be a great
convenience”, he added.
Full access by doctors working for deputising services covering
multiple practices is another matter, obviously presenting different
security considerations. At present some such services have access to a
data repository of summaries of patient records from the practices for
which they provide cover.
Source: bjhc&im November 2006
Disclaimer
|