Here’s a bit of a health brainstorm…

I think a lot of the ideas currently being developed / put into action
regarding electronic patient records / lifelong health records, are a huge
step in the right direction. I want my doctor to know what my past medical
history is, want him to easily see what other practitioners I have been
referred to have said about my conditions.

I don’t want to have to go “tell” my doctor if I was taken into A&E over the
weekend, I want him to be alerted to the fact.

I’d like e-mail consultations for those times I just want some advice, or
where I feel more comfortable in a non face-to-face environment. I want to
receive e-mail prescriptions, to save me having to take time off work just
to pick one up.

I’d like to be able to book appointments by SMS, or online, I want to be
able to access my records, check their accuracy or content, and add notes or
further information that I feel would help in proper diagnosis of problems.
I want to be able to get an instant second opinion by submitting my records
to a panel of independent GPs / specialists.

As for security / control. I want the people who need to see my records to
give good quality, integrated health care, to be able to see them, or the
relevant parts of them. This means, doctors, dentists, opticians, nurses,
pharmacists, and any other person involved in my care. I don’t want
insurance brokers, my employers, etc. to have access - I want them to submit
a request for specific information (not the whole record) where needed, and
the electronic record will make the report easier to write. I use Internet
Banking, and am happy with the security measures there - so I’d be happy
with a similar process for my health records. So long as this was updated
as new security measures become easily available to the home user.

However, I appreciate many people don’t use e-banking because they’re not
content with the security measures - so they won’t get involved until
something is suggested that satisfies them.

Some of the above is in progress, whether it will end up being as I hope is
yet to be seen. It clearly needs huge IT investment and training. We need
homogeneity across the systems being used in the NHS, (and also to be honest
with private medicine, because we’d want our doctors to be able to see any
results of private tests etc.). We need massive training, and to instill a
feeling of ownership for both medical staff and patients. What we also need
is cross party support, because what’s the point of putting the time and
money in, if the goverment changes and rips up all the good work you’ve
done.

Published by Pan on 27/09/04 at 10:12am

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