Merseyside hospital accesses GP records

University Hospital Aintree is now able to achieve access to electronic records for 450,000 patients as the result of a collaboration with Liverpool Primary Care Trust, GP software provider EMIS Group and System C, a supplier of patient management and clinical systems. It enables hospital staff to access GP patient records held in EMIS from within their own Medway clinical system. A spokesperson for EMIS said this is the first time it has enabled the sharing of information between primary and secondary care bodies on such a scale. The project has been implemented across the whole of the hospital's emergency floor, including A&E and emergency care. The clinicians only get access to the records with the consent of the patient. A spokesperson for the hospital told SmartHealthcare.com that the records can be viewed on PCs, laptops or mobile devices. Initially, the hospital clinicians will only be able to view the information, but there are plans to enable them to update it. "The first phase is for GPs' information to be shared, and the second phase will add in hospital clinicians updating and sharing with GPs electronically to show an integrated view of the patient," she said. The shared record comprises details of allergies, alerts, general health status, a full prescribing history and test results. Tony McDonnell, associate director of informatics from University Hospital Aintree, said: "This project addresses the 'missing link' between primary and secondary care by giving hospital clinicians instant access to essential patient information to support diagnosis and treatment. "Patients admitted for emergency treatment are often confused and distressed, making it difficult for them to remember essential information such as the medication they are on and recent tests they have had. By having the information instantly available, we are removing all of the hassle and wasted time that is often spent contacting the patient's GP - ensuring quicker and more informed care." The hospital said this will help to reduce the margin of error for clinicians by giving them a full picture of a patient's care, remove duplication of effort, such as in ordering tests, and give them information on patients' medications. Following trials, it has estimated that it could see an extra two patients in a two hour window. The hospital and Liverpool PCT have previously worked on sharing electronic GP records with minor surgery clinics and out of hours GPs.