1st Edition

Building an Electronic Disease Register Getting the Computer to Work for You

By Alan Gillies, Bev Ellis, Nick Lowe Copyright 2002

    This clear, straightforward and practical book uses the example of a disease register to show how computers can work for you, and not the other way round. The results are improved patient health and patient care. And computers play a major role in achieving this. The book describes how to computerise patient records, implement systems to process them in accordance with best practice and available evidence, improve working practices and procedures, train staff and manage the process of change. In addition the book provides an overview of the process of implementing an electronic disease register, examines the real example of a coronary heart disease (CHD) register in a primary care organisation, and considers future developments, including the impact of the CHD National Service Framework. Whatever stage of computerisation your practice is at, whether you are a general practitioner, practice manager, or other member of the primary care team or primary care organisation, you will find this to be an essential guide.

    What this book is about. How the book is organized. About the authors. Part One: The process of implementing and EDR. What is an EDR? Computerising patient records. Managing the process of change. Part Two: Fylde PCG: a case study. The case study and its context. Establishing agreed policies across the PCG. Implementing the policy. Implementing the policy in an InPractice VISION practice. Implementing the CHD policy in an EMIS practice. Part Three: Where do we go from here? Future PCG developments for coding CHD. Conclusions. Appendix A: Vision guidance for the NSF. Appendix B: The web site.

    Biography

    Alan Gillies, Bev Ellis, Nick Lowe