More doctors use electronic records

8:17am Thursday 8th February 2007

MORE doctors than ever are now checking up on electronic records showing how their patients are being treated in hospital.

The latest information strategy report from York Hospital showed that nearly 80 GPs in York and Selby were now using a centralised patient database - compared with only three in 2001.

The database was set up by the former Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) and York Hospital so that GPs and consultants would be able to check a patient's record electronically.

It means that GPs can monitor their patients once they reach hospital.

Hospital chief executive Jim Easton said: "Getting the right information about patients is critical to their treatment. It means that people can have the right information about you at the right time."

Between 2001 and 2006, the number of times consultants looked at a patient's electronic record rose from 148 to 4,223. By then, 128 consultants were using the service, compared with 17 five years previously. Nearly 90 per cent of the hospital's consultants were now using the system.

The IT strategy has also had an impact on X-rays, blood requests and patient admissions.

According to the hospital's report, 80 per cent of all blood requests for in-patients were ordered electronically by the end of 2006.

Last year 80 per cent of in-patients were admitted to hospital electronically, compared with under a quarter in 2001.

It was thought the hospital's X-ray department had saved £60,000 by abandoning camera film in favour of electronic CT images.

Out-of-hours doctors also had access to electronic records - and it was thought this saved some people from being sent to hospital.

Now chiefs from the new North Yorkshire and York PCT and York Hospital have written a new IT strategy summary detailing how they want to see technology used in the future.

Among a long list of proposals, they want to see electronic records developed further, with patients having greater access to information about their condition and care.

The summary said: "It remains clear to both organisations that the use of information technology is important in the delivery of healthcare and financial recovery.

"With the rapid improvement in technology and a greater awareness and enthusiasm amongst staff of the potential this brings, it is essential that both organisations have a cohesive and coherent framework to harness technology to its greatest effect."