PRSB’s About Me standard included in TPP SystmOne update

TPP is supporting health care professionals to capture About Me information through an update of its core product.

The update of TPP’s SystmOne, include the release of local codes, which will allow primary care teams to record information consistently to support the About Me standard.

The About Me standard records information that is important to the patient – such as how they’d like to be communicated with, how to make them feel comfortable and how they like to take medication. In March this year TPP joined the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB)’s Standards Partnership Scheme, which aims to provide the foundations for interoperability within healthcare.

Thanks to the newly released codes, the free text captured within an About Me record is now searchable. It can also be transferred to shared care records and restructured to printable documents held by the patient.

Over 265,000 NHS users will benefit from the update, which will allow for more personalised care and is a step forward in building interoperability in the health and care system.

Dr John Parry, clinical director at TPP, said: “The release of codes to support About Me implementation represents a significant step forward in our drive to promote patient-held records as a means for people to record their preferences, allowing details to be recorded via SystmOne and shared between care providers.

“The About Me standard allows information to be stored consistently in systems, and that consistency allows for reuse within and between systems. It encourages the patient voice to be heard and acted upon. This is essential for safety, improved patient experiences and better outcomes.”

PRSB’s Care About Me campaign is a year-long drive to raise awareness of the About Me Standard for both providers and suppliers as well as the general public.

Lorraine Foley, PRSB’s CEO, added: “Encouraging use of the About Me standard in systems and learning more about how and where our standards are enabling better care are important goals in our #CareAboutMe campaign.

“TPP’s decision to release codes for the standard just as we get our campaign underway is fantastic, and we encourage other suppliers and health and care providers to work with us to build momentum for widespread use of the standard and the improvements in care that will deliver.”