EMIS trials SCR for Web

EMIS has started ‘first of type’ testing of Summary Care Record functionality for EMIS Web.

Six practices in the north east of England are piloting the SCR functionality to confirm the software works effectively and in harmony with other national Spine applications.

The process requires 45 days of successful testing before the module can be accredited for roll-out to all users.

NHS North East chief information officer Dr Graham Evans described it as “good news” that first of type testing has started.

“In the North East we have a good track record of creating SCRs for patients who want them, and now patients at practices with the EMIS web system could soon have the same opportunity to have an SCR as other patients in the North East,” he said.

The SCR carries data on a patient’s allergies, medications and adverse reactions to medicines. It is uploaded from the GP practice system to the Spine and the summary information is available at any site which views the records.

In North East England, 1.2m patients now have SCRs, giving the region the second highest proportion of people with the emergency care summaries in England.

The SCRs are now being routinely used at hospitals and urgent care centres in County Durham and on Teesside.

Director of informatics at NHS North of Tyne primary care trust cluster, Ian Davidson, said there is a strong appetite for the software in the region.

“Practices can see the benefits of SCRs to patients and are keen to join the initiative,” he said.

“We will be working closely with NHS Connecting for Health and EMIS over the next month to ensure the software, training materials and deployment methodologies are rigorously tested.”

More than 900 practices are now using EMIS Web and about 1,400 further orders have been placed for the system.