PCT SELECTS GRAPHNET’S REPOSITORY TO DELIVER DIABETIC CARE RECORD
Salford PCT, a Trust renowned for excellent diabetes care has chosen Graphnet’s central repository to provide an integrated diabetes patient care record. Salford PCTs’ objectives were to allow health professionals to share and view diabetes information and for patients to have access to their complete care record. With Graphnet’s repository diabetes patients will be empowered to take control of their own health through instant access to their patient record via a web browser. Security has been inbuilt in Graphnet’s products. This solution enables the PCT to support the implementation of NSFs through tracking the patient journey, and supports the DMSP - Disease Management Systems Programme (the DMSP was commissioned by the NHSIA to work with NSFs in support of the National Programme for IT) whilst also supporting patients’ self-efficacy through giving them access to their diabetes care plan.
Based on the success of the project to date, Salford PCT is making further plans. Roll out across the PCT will cover 61 GP practices. John Burns, Project Manager said “With the national messaging developments by EMIS, we aim to be one of the first districts to have a truly integrated Diabetes information system. All health professionals and patients will be able to access their entire diabetic health record. Graphnet in conjunction with EMIS have developed the first clinical message transaction based on the national message structure and our plans are to roll this facility out to manage and support all chronic diseases. The project plan was developed jointly and this close contact has facilitated rapid project implementation.
Graphnet harnesses its XML technology to extract data from the GP and Acute clinical systems of EMIS, In Practice Systems and iSOFT. This data is stored in the central Graphnet Repository which is held at the PCT. Users of the system who will include GPs, Consultants and Diabetes Specialist Nurses will access the Graphnet Repository via a web front-end, this will enable them to see a consolidated view of the patient care path.
Dr Bob Young, Clinical Director of Diabetes & Endocrinology at Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust sees major advantages. He said: “A key objective for us is to support patients’ self-efficacy through giving them access to their diabetes care plan and an easy route to supplementary information. Patients are happy with the inbuilt confidentiality safeguards and the fact that they no longer have to keep repeating their basic demographic information.
The Graphnet-based Integrated Diabetic Care Record will provide many benefits. Diabetes care will improve by enabling healthcare professionals to have instant access to patient information regarding specific conditions. Patients will have a single hand held record, which provides a summary of the care that they receive from both primary and secondary care providers. Salford’s information requirements can also now be met with Graphnet’s system; PCT audits, CHI reviews, basic resource management can now be carried out successfully.
The project has been rolled out in two phases. Phase one, which was a proof of concept, involved taking feeds from the two GP practices and acute clinical system. The second phase was approved at the end of April and consists of a pilot based on the proof of concept. This phase will prove that numerous systems at 8 GP practices can be fed into the repository and will introduce Organisational Links to be used as indexing. The indexing solution ensures that records are matched accurately. An analysis into the success of the project will be carried out towards the end of the summer.
Graphnet has worked in partnership with Salford PCT, not only to deliver the technical solution but also to enable clinical and patient buy-in. Patients have had to be carefully consulted and educated on patient record issues. Good partnerships with the GP information system providers have enabled smooth information transfer to the central repository.