Southport gets digital dictation

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has implemented a digital dictation system from Medisec.

The trust is also deploying an electronic medical records system and a portal.

Southport and Ormskirk’s new digital dictation software is fully integrated with the trust’s workflow management system, also from Medisec.

Luke Twigger, head of IT at the trust, described it as a key move in modernising Southport and Ormskirk’s clinical correspondence.

“Our previous digital dictation platform had never been fully integrated with our workflow systems for optimal efficiency savings,” he said.

The software can also tag voice files from clinicans with data from the trust’s patient administration system to generate patient letters.

When a staff member opens the voice file, the system automatically inserts patient information into a letter template. The clinician is then able to edit and authorise all clinical correspondence online on the system.

The trust already sends clinical letters to GPs via the Medical Interoperability gateway and is extending the paperless service to all types of clinical correspondence.

Southport and Ormskirk is also implementing Kainos’ electronic medical records system, replacing its paper-based service.

The trust’s IT strategy for 2011-2015 says it will integrate all clinical data in acute, primary and community services into a single electronic record.

“Disparate systems must provide a seamless view wherever possible to optimise clinical safety and effectiveness,” says the strategy.

The trust also plans to deploy a portal with access to its clinical operating system, which will include complete clinical systems integration.

A key features of this will be a portal targeted at patients, which will provide advice and guidance and allow the capture of patient entered data.

“The portal technology will support not only PCs but mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones allowing applications to be created on the COS and accessed by the healthcare community," the IT strategy says.