EMIS is one of the four main suppliers of GP computer systems in Wales who have signed an agreement with NHS Wales to provide the technical solution that will make the IHR available across the country.
The IHR is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative that allows important patient information to be securely shared between GPs, emergency care and out of hours services – with the patient’s consent. It gives an electronic view of key information held on the GP’s practice computer system.
In collaboration with NHS Wales and system providers Adastra, InPractice Systems and iSOFT, EMIS has conducted development work to ensure that patient information from its 159 practices in Wales can be shared through the IHR.
In EMIS’ case, the data-sharing will be facilitated by introducing real-time streaming of patient information from each of its practices into EMIS Web. EMIS Web will then link into a technical platform developed by NHS Wales to connect the four systems.
English patients in the Gateshead, Liverpool and Cumbria areas already benefit from the sharing of information for out of hours care via a direct link between EMIS Web and the Adastra system. Clinicians report benefits including more efficient and safer patient care.
Sean Riddell, Chief Executive of EMIS Group plc, said: “The Individual Health Record is a fantastic example of how collaboration between different suppliers – and a commitment to interoperability between their systems – can improve healthcare.
“Based on our own experience of other projects, we know that sharing information across the wider healthcare team delivers not only more efficient services but also better and safer patient care.
“We congratulate the Welsh Assembly Government on the introduction of the Individual Health Record and look forward to helping to make it happen on the ground.”
