Digital x-ray system rolls out |
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Rolling out a new PACS
The new all-Wales Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) is up and running at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Hywel Dda Health Board, with Cwm Taf Health Board scheduled to go live this summer.
A national framework contract for a managed PACS was awarded to Fujifilm by the NHS Wales Informatics Service in April 2012. The agreement runs for seven years and significant savings are forecast as all health boards move across to the new system.
In addition to the PACS services the contract included the provision of a central archive facility, which provides the opportunity to share PACS images between organisations.
This development is being worked on by NHS Wales' informatics staff and it is anticipated it will enable clinicians to view all images for their patients wherever the image was taken.
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Introducing Welsh Clinical Portal v2.4 |
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More features, better peformance
 The latest version of the Welsh Clinical Portal offers more features, better performance and revised screens.
A significant enhancement included in WCP version 2.4 is the reduction in the number of steps in the electronic pathology test requesting process.
Performance of the WCP application is also increased in v2.4 with improved response times for patient details, a test results tab, and a Direct Results Viewer.
The latest version also allows a user of the WCP to see radiology reports and view associated PACS images.
Revised screens now include one step to review previous tests (to help avoid unnecessary duplicate requesting) and a second screen will allow users to enter all relevant details for pathology requests. |
Abdominal Aorta Screeners get portable IT solution
 An information management system, for public health professionals to measure the abdominal aorta in men at 65 years of age, has been designed so it can be taken out and about to screening clinics across Wales.
The system's daybook option means administrators in the Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme (WAAASP) can download the data from a desktop computer onto an encrypted SD card for the screeners to upload onto a laptop version to use in a community clinic.
After the clinic, data from the SD card can be uploaded onto a central system so the screening results are available for future care if required.
The system also allows administrators to create session lists for the screeners to call up when they are at the clinic so they know exactly what patients are attending and when. They can also click on their patient's name to call up the AAA record.
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Getting a birds-eye view of A&E |
Gives access to information for smooth emergency care
 Emergency departments in some Welsh hospitals are working together to purchase a new computer system to help manage the progress of patients through their departments.
The new system will give emergency department staff a live overview of where patients are in the department and the severity of their condition.
The new system will support 'live data capture' and be flexible enough to outline what is happening in an emergency department as it occurs.
The new ED system will be able to integrate with other national information and computer systems, such as the Welsh Clinical Portal.
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Cardiff hospital shares E-discharges with GPs |
Provides electronic link for vital medicines detail
 Clinical and pharmacy staff at University Hospital of Wales Ward B7 have been the first to try out a new module of the Welsh Clinical Portal - Medicines Transcribing and E-Discharge (MTED).
With more than 10,000 discharges every month at Cardiff and Vale, MTED supports the electronic capture of a patient's medicines and the generation of an electronic discharge communication that can be sent over the Welsh Clinical Communications Gateway directly to the GP.
"We now have the capacity to overcome a longstanding clinical risk inherent in the written handover of care following hospital discharge to GPs," says Dr John Peters, Cardiff and Vale Consultant Diabetologist and Informatics Clinical Lead.
"MTED allows for real time and clear communication of patient status, treatment requirements and follow up arrangements. It represents a major step forward in patient safety and quality of care."
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Spotlight on Primary Care IT in Wales
e-Health Insider recently spoke with NWIS Director of Engagement, David Davies and Director for Operational Services, Andrew MacBean about how GPs are benefitting from Wales's Primary Care IT strategy.
Read the article on ehi's website. |
Fantastic Support
"The team at NWIS has shown fantastic support in the implementation of the Child Measurement Programme.
"This is the first time we've had a clear picture of child growth across Wales and it's already telling us some really useful information. There is still work to be done, and we look forward to working closely with NWIS into the future."
Dr Ciaran Humphreys -
Consultant in Public Health/Health Intelligence, Public Health Wales
Learn more about the Child Measurement Programme on the Public Health Wales website. |
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AAA grades
"No screening programme can run effectively without a high quality information management system. The informatics service in partnership with screening staff have delivered a precise system on time and to a high degree of sophistication."
Dr Rosemary Fox - Screening Director, Public Health Wales speaking about the new management system used by Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screeners.
Read more about the system in this month's newsletter and on our internet site. |
Getting good use
In five months between January and May 2013, more than 850,000 results were viewed using the Welsh Clinical Portal.
Pathology results viewed
689,893
Radiology results viewed
161,080 |
Going live
On the implementation front, roll out of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Blood Sciences discipline across four Labs at Hywel Dda Health Board is scheduled for September 2013.
Dates for subsequent LIMS rollouts in other locations are also being prepared with the respective Health Boards. |
Views needed for entry level informatics
Three organisations across the UK are working towards developing a new apprenticeship qualification in Health Informatics and want your views.
NHS Wales Informatics Service, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and Skills for Healthare working together to develop the new apprenticeship framework in Health Informatics which will include a 'level 3' qualification that apprentices can work towards.
Please take part in a survey to help determine how new apprentices can meet the needs of Health Informatics staff across Wales.
The survey closes Friday 6th September 2013.
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