What is the EHR?
The
Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a new computer-based system adopted by
the NHS organisations in Wirral. It stores your health records 'electronically',
which allows doctors and other health professionals to access up-to-date
information about you and your health.
A joint approach
Wirral Hospital NHS Trust, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Trust,
Bebington & West Wirral Primary Care Trust and Birkenhead & Wallasey Primary
Care Trust are working together; briefly that means all the hospitals and
GP surgeries in Wirral. The technical elements of the EHR are dealt with
by Wirral Health Informatics Service (WHIS), a directorate of Wirral Hospital
NHS Trust.
Seeing the whole picture
The separate pieces of information about you held on different NHS computer
systems are now brought together into one place. Until now, it's been difficult
or time-consuming for your GP to see relevant information about your health
that's stored on the hospital's computers. Similarly, doctors at the hospital
haven't had ready access to the information that your GP holds about you.
The EHR system pulls your health information from your doctor's surgery
and from hospitals like Arrowe Park and makes your complete 'health record'
available in one place. Now your GP can see the whole picture, as can doctors
at the hospital if you ever have to be treated there.
To start off with, the EHR holds the following pieces of information:
- Your demographic details, such as your name, address and date of birth
- Details of any visits you've made to Arrowe Park or Clatterbridge
- Details of any times you've been treated in A&E;
- Details of any surgery you've had· Details from your GP's file on you
- Results of laboratory tests and X-Rays you've had
- Wirral Hospital discharge summary letters
- Outpatient appointment details
Soon there'll be more categories of information, such
as any diabetes history you have and which vaccinations children have been
given.
Getting the EHR up and running
The technicians at WHIS ran a pilot study, testing the new system with twenty-three
GP surgeries across Wirral. With the benefit of that experience, WHIS and
the GP surgeries are now moving forward with the next phase: switching on
the real live system in all Wirral surgeries. This is planned to be completed
by April 2004. Following close behind will be the many hospital departments,
such as Accident & Emergency at Arrowe Park and the GP Out of Hours Service.
