ICT in Healthcare

1. ICT in Healthcare

2. Electronic prescription service • GPs and nurses can send electronic prescriptions to a dispenser (pharmacy) of the patients choice. • More convenient for patients • 70% of prescriptions are repeat medication and can be time consuming using paper based methods

3. Patient Identification • When a patient is in hospital they have a unique identification number (NHS #) • This is a key field (unique) in the NHS database and helps distinguish patients from the same address • Each patient is issued a wristband which includes their name; DOB; blood type and NHS #

4. Blood bar coding and tracking systems • Blood is taken from donors and tested to get the blood group (A, B, O, etc) • Blood is stored at the National blood transfusion service – bar coded labels are produced during testing and attached to bags • Matched blood is sent to hospital when needed and kept in blood bank – Blood bag is scanned before placed in bank • Hospital staff remove required blood by scanning their ID card – The blood bag is then scanned and taken to the ward • The patient who requires the transfusion has their bar code on their wrist scanned – if blood bag matches, transfusion given

5. Advantages of blood tracking system • System provides a full audit trail by identifying staff taking blood; the time; location; time spent out of bank • Eliminates paper records – saves time and space (filing cabinets) • Cross matching information electronically eliminates the risk of patients being given the wrong blood • Provides security • Used for stock control so that the blood matches patients needs • Can find the donor/receiver if there is a cross-infection

6. Bar coding in health • BC is a fast and efficient input method • It can also be used for: • Identifying laboratory specimens • Some patient paper based records contain a bar code on them for identification

7. Use of internet in health • The internet is a huge group of networks joined together • Firewalls ensure people can’t access the internet without permission • Allows staff to send emails to patients • Allows staff to perform research • Enables patients to communicate with family and friends • Can send information on lab tests or x-rays requested by doctors from hospitals

8. Use of intranet in health • A private network used within an organisation that makes use of internet technology • Can be used to transfer patient data to different devices around the hospital

9. Use of extranet in health • An external network that can be used by the customer, supplies and partners of the organisation as well as the organisation itself • Secure – must have authorisation (username and password) to enter • Suppliers can keep track of stock to ensure vital drugs and equipment don’t run out • GPs can check the condition of their patients

10. Distributed medical databases • A database spread over two or more servers in a network • When a request is made the distributed parts of the database are merged into one which means multiple people can access it at once • Advantages are: • Security can be improved as the data isn’t kept in one place • Speed of access is improved because one server does not have to deal with all the requests for information

11. Backup and recovery procedures • It is ensure patient records are kept secure and backed up regularly • Recovery procedures must be in place to recover lost data Considerations for backup • Whether any downtime is acceptable (time without computers) • How much data needs backing up • Where is data stored • How often will copies of the data be taken • When is the data backed up