Microtest and CSE work on info sharing

The Evolution GP system will interface with RiO and Oceano in a new project to deliver general practice data directly into community and acute hospital systems.

The project between Microtest and CSE Healthcare Systems will allow GP practices across Cornwall and other counties in the South West to share their data with community and acute providers and receive information in return.

Microtest says the initiative will give health and social care providers the opportunity to manage processes such as referrals and discharge and to access important clinical information electronically.

Practices will be able to elect to share their data with community and acute providers in their local area.

Microtest user group chairman, Dr Avish Punater, said both companies involved have a strong presence in the area.

“From the user group side, obviously the interface between primary care and secondary care is particularly important,” he said.

GPs want to get discharge information on their patients back quickly from the hospital, but find it sometimes takes two to three weeks.

Acute providers, in turn, want access to the most up to date information about a patient which is most often the GP record.

“The community aspect with RiO is also very important because district nurses and health visitors always run slightly separately to primary care and secondary care, so this is tying that all up,” Dr Punater added.

Chris Pratt, sales and marketing director of CSE said: “We have a strong presence in secondary care in Cornwall and other counties in the South West who will welcome the availability of more IT solutions which deliver more integrated health and social care.”