PRSB publishes extension of shared care record standards

The Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) has published a report that extends the use of its shared care record standards to five community settings: pharmacy, optometry, dentistry, ambulance and community services. 

The use of shared care record standards helps ensure that healthcare teams can deliver effective and clinically safe care to each patient. Healthcare professionals will have a complete picture of a patient’s care history to ensure the most suitable care is given. At the same time, the data is subject to the appropriate controls. 

The PRSB Core Information Standards are already in use across other parts of the NHS, bringing benefits to both patients and staff. Now the organisation is extending its use to pharmacy, optometry, dentistry, ambulance and community health (PODAC) settings.

The publication of the extension comes following in-depth evidence-gathering and robust consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.  

Maureen Baker, CBE, chair of PRSB, said: “Good patient care depends on professionals having access to the right information in a person’s care record.  

“I’m delighted that the Core Information Standard for shared care records is seen to fulfil the information needs of professionals working in all of these community care settings. This represents another step bringing us closer to a joined-up system of care from which both people and professionals will benefit.” 

The PRSB has suggested that the GP record could be used to speed up care data being shared in these settings, as much of the information identified by the Core Information Standards exists in current GP systems. 

James Palmer, programme head for digital PODAC at NHS Digital, said: “Endorsing the information standard for use across PODAC sectors marks a really important step on the journey to enabling true interoperability across the wider health and care system.” 

The extension of the shared care record standards comes just days after PRSB awarded its first quality mark for conformance to core information standards. The quality mark recognises Orion Health’s interoperable shared care records.