GP Clinical Computer Systems

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GP Clinical Computer Systems
An invaluable tool for improving patient care
key slides
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Benefits of a good GP clinical computer system

• Modern systems allow storage of patient
  information, e.g.
• current drugs, drug history, allergies/intolerance
  s, etc.
• blood pressure readings, test results, etc.
• hospital letters, etc. can be scanned in
• any lifestyle advice given
• They also allow easy retrieval of information
• automatically for audits, QOF, recalling patients
  for disease reviews
• customised for specific ad-hoc reports
• Audit trails must be maintained
• up to date, password protected information

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Coding is the key

• Hierarchical codes used to group information
  together
• Allows lists of patients to be obtained for
  reviews
• Can exclude sub-groups of patients to refine
  searches
• Allows patient preferences to be logged

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Other Benefits

• Records ALL entries onto the system for audit
  purposes and prevention of fraud
• Compliant with third party programmes, e.g.
  MIQUEST, path lab links, ScriptSwitch
• Support NSFs and new GP contract
• Supports primary and secondary disease prevention
• Confidential, password SMART card protected
• Support the principles of Clinical Governance
  Caldecott
• Risk management, in-built prompts and warnings
• Stable, proven and reliable
• Easy to use and Paper-light

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What cant GP systems do?

• Replace good quality clinical diagnosis and
  professional care
• Rubbish in, Rubbish out - only beneficial if
  staff use them properly
• Outcomes are dependant on the quality of the data
  held on the system
• Not totally maintenance free
• No Perfect system

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Medicines Management

• Allows ad hoc and planned reviews to be performed
  easily
• Allows set numbers of repeat prescriptions to be
  issued before forcing a review
• Facilitates generic prescribing (but recommends
  when drugs should not be prescribed generically)
• Alerts for interactions between different
  therapies
• Alerts for patient allergies / intolerances, etc.
• Can advise on therapy and treatment and recommend
  changes to therapy choices during consultation
  and at review
• Needs to be supported by a robust in-practice
  Repeat Prescribing Policy

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GP / Community Pharmacy

• Facilitate Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions
  (ETP) and Repeat Dispensing
• may help reduce fraud
• may help reduce wastage
• convenient for patients, practices pharmacies
• allow Medicines Usage Reviews (MUR) to be logged
  into patients records

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Summary

• A modern GP practice simply cannot function
  without a good computer system
• A computer is only as good as the information
  held in it