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August 2015 
Speedy delivery 
Electronic clinical letters pilot goes live in Aneurin Bevan
 
Over a thousand clinical letters have been sent electronically in the first few weeks of a clinical letters pilot which sends outpatient letters from secondary care to primary care.  Clinical letters are used to let the patient's GP know  the outcome of  an out patient appointment.
 
During the pilot traditional paper letters have been replaced with an electronic letter, sent directly into the GP system, saving on administration, paper and postage costs and improving patient safety.
 
The pilot, which is taking place in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, uses  the Welsh Clinical Communications Gateway as a two way communication tool.  The Welsh Clinical Communications Gateway is an electronic 'postbox', which is currently also used for electronic referrals and discharges.
 
In most of Wales, clinical letters are generated manually in hospitals, printed and then posted to the GP practice. Around four million letters a year are manually processed.
 
"The electronic clinical letters service will facilitate further workflow efficiencies in both primary and secondary care settings," says Lee Price, Aneurin Bevan's Interim Head of Informatics Programme. "It has been well received at this early stage and following formal evaluation we are hopeful of a rapid rollout to all GP practices across the Health Board." 
 
Following the pilot, it is planned that the service will be extended across Wales.
Modernising check-ins 
Cwm Taf streamlines outpatient arrivals
 
New kiosks and calling screens unveiled in Cwm Taf University Health Board's outpatient clinics this month allows patients to check themselves in for their hospital appointments.
 
The 22 screens and 17 kiosks across the health board's five main outpatient departments can also allow patients to update personal details such as addresses and phone numbers. This new system can be used to connect patients to Cwm Taf's new 'Text and Remind' service, which will send text and phone reminders to patients about their appointment.
 
NHS Wales Informatics Service worked with Cwm Taf to link the kiosks to the National Patient Administration System (Myrddin), which is used to managed patient administration and appointment details.
 
"This is an exciting new development for the health board which uses technology to improve the experiences of our patients," says Alan Lewis, Cwm Taf's Director Manager for Outpatients. "The kiosks will be simple and easy to use but reception staff will of course still be on hand to help people if they need it. The self service system aims to cut the time people spend waiting to check in at reception desks and streamline the appointments system."
LIMS continues its rollout
National pathology system reaches ABMU histology
  

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board's Histology Department successfully went live with the new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) last month at Singleton and Morriston hospitals.

 

No major issues were experienced and staff feedback has been very good.

 

The LIMS is already available across the whole of Wales for blood sciences.

 

It allows health professionals to see all previous tests conducted for a patient, and request new tests, no matter where they are in Wales. All NHS Wales pathology departments now use the new system for haematology, biochemistry, immunology and microbiology.

 

The spotlight now turns to Hywel Dda University Health Board histology department as the next implementation site next month. 

Career opportunities 
Join our team  
  
We currently have a number of IT vacancies within NHS Wales Informatics Service.  Working for the NHS means you can use your skills to help support patient care through technology. It also offers career development, the NHS pension scheme, opportunities for flexible working and other benefits including child care vouchers.

"The main attraction for working in the NHS was the varied and broad technical work" said Marc Cole who joined NHS Wales as a Data Networking Engineer in December 2014.
  
"Whilst money will get you to the private sector, it won't keep you there. I found in the private sector that I was ring fenced and unable to develop.  However, since joining NHS Wales I have had the opportunity to work with high end equipment in an environment which is great for learning."
  
Here are some of our current vacancies:
  
Senior IT Specialist
Senior Software Developer
Learning & Development Officer
  
And there are more!
  
Find out more about all the IT jobs we have available at
  
Visit our Jobs Fair
Mark your calendar!
  
We are hosting a jobs fair at our Cardiff office on 24th September between 10 and 2.  
  
Prospective candidates will have the opportunity to meet with members of staff and learn more about the organisation and the varied roles available.
  
Learn more about some of our positions further in this newsletter or visit our website for more details and directions to the event.
Informatics in the News
GP2GP pilot highlighted
  
This month, DigitalHealth.net (previously e Health Insider) covers the recent GP2GP digital transfer pilot that allows  patient records to be sent electronically from one practice to another.
  
The story follows the success of last month's first digital medical record transfer between two GP surgeries in Cardiff.
  
It is planned the new system will replace the current paper-heavy process for moving a patient's GP record that can take weeks. The new process can take less than thirty minutes.
Voting now open
Director Andrew Griffiths shortlisted for ehealth award
  
NHS Wales Informatics Service Director Andrew Griffiths is one of five individuals shortlisted for the eHealth Awards Healthcare IT Champion of the Year. To find out more and to cast your vote head to the ehealth awards website.
  

Voting closes on Friday 11th September at 16.00 and the winner will be announced at the EHI Awards ceremony on Thursday 1st October.

Informatics @ Events
Spotlighting a single patient record
 
NHS Wales Informatics Service's Lead Technical Architect, Ian Williams will be speaking at an international conference in London.
 
The "Enterprise Search Europe" event being held at the Olympia Conference Centre in London on 20 October provides a unique opportunity to share experiences, learn about emerging technologies and find solutions.
 
Ian will be presenting his experiences on innovative approaches to support the single patient record in Wales.
Seeing the big picture
Health Maps Wales updated
  
The interactive data tool, Health Maps Wales has been updated to show the latest health figures across Wales.
 
Recent updates include cancer incidents data for ten years through to 2013, PEDW admission data and "Birth and Babies" indicators for the ten years through to 2014 as well as the latest immunisation data from the National Community Child Health Database.
 
Health Maps Wales can be accessed online via their website.
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