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MEDICAL INFORMATICS Assignment II - Case Study of a Health Care Computer System The Castle Surgery, Carrickfergus. JAMES LAPPIN CIARAN KING SIOBHAN KILLEN. SYSTEM STUDIED: Emis Integrated General Practice Computing System. OBJECTIVE:
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MEDICAL INFORMATICS Assignment II - Case Study of a Health Care Computer System The Castle Surgery, Carrickfergus JAMES LAPPIN CIARAN KING SIOBHAN KILLEN
SYSTEM STUDIED: • Emis Integrated General Practice Computing System • OBJECTIVE: • A study of the practice’s progress in to becoming a paperless practice, minimising or eliminating paper records.
THE CASTLE SURGERY: • 14, 000 patients • 25 computers • All patient records are electronic, although the paper records are still kept • All rooms have electronic locking • Self Check-In and JX board
KEY FEATURES (EMIS): • Complete patient management • Intelligent prescribing • Definitive medical records • Formulary management • Integrated consultation mode and appointments • Mentor library • Integration with Microsoft Word • EMIS Drug Explorer • Electronic insurance reports • Surveys and Audits
SECURITY: • Not live, for the moment • User ID – 3 letters and 3 numbers • Password changes every 60 log-ins • User can only be logged into1 pc at a time • Back up tapes • Audit trail • Log-out if idle (not EMIS)
ADVANTAGES (1): • Full patient record in front of the doctor; all details can be accessed at the touch of a button • A summary sheet about the patient can be printed out if going on a house call • Notes can be typed up then and there abbreviations are recognised; saves time • Searches and audits are made so much more simple in comparison to using a paper based system • Lab test results are sent straight through to the doctor’s computer; efficient and beneficial to patients
ADVANTAGES (2): • Internal messaging system between GPs and receptionists mean messages can be sent as soon as they are needed. It also prevents the doctor being disturbed by the telephone • Appointment spaces are clearly seen by the receptionist when a patient calls so no need for flicking through pages in an appointment book • Doctor can see any changes to the appointment schedule immediately on their screen • The self check-in reduces the receptionists’ work load
ADAVANTAGES (3): • Prescribing drugs for a patient is made easy by a full list of suitable drugs shown, the system remembering the doctor’s preferred choice and through warnings of patients allergies or interactions with other drugs • The doctor has a link to patient information leaflets which can be printed out for the patient to take home; saving consultation time and pleases the patient
DISADVANTAGES (1): • Admission of a new patient takes a great deal of time; no straightforward transfer of paper notes • The system depends on the competency of individuals and skills vary • Training outside the practice must be taken before using the system • Logging in and out of the system can get tiresome • Staff may forget passwords, especially as they change after 60 log-ins
DISADVANTAGES (2): • Not all security issues can be totally minimised • Self check in and JX board is no use for visually impaired patients • All the advantages gained for prescribing drugs relies on the information input to be up to date • The interface is ugly • The surgery would not be able to operate without if the system functioning successfully
PATIENT APPOINTMENTS: • Can be made in person or over the phone • Patients can check in at the reception or manually on a computer • The doctors computer notifies him or her that the patient is waiting
APPOINTMENTS CONTINUED: • Patients are called to the surgery at the touch of a button • There is a JX board in reception telling the patient when her or she have been called • The patient records are on screen before they enter the consultation
PATIENT INFORMATION: • There is a wealth of information that can be printed off the computer system and given to patients • Some further reading about the illness that they are suffering from • Can help to reassure
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to: Dr. IAN BUCHANAN LISA “resident IT boffin” And all at Castle Surgery