Further support for e-health record
A recent study shows that hospitals and aged care facilities can both improve when it comes to sharing patient information.
GPpartners in Brisbane has released an audit toolkit to promote more effective clinical handovers for aged care residents who transfer into hospital.
The kit was developed after a study of transfers between aged care facilities and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital found room for improvement.
The aged care medical director for GPpartners, Dr Richard Kidd said the study identified a number of ways in which providers and hospitals could work more intelligently.
“The audit toolkit that resulted from this study will allow GPs, aged care services and hospitals to identify areas for improvement in a way that is constructive, non-blaming, with the promise of better patient health outcomes,” Dr Kidd said.
The study recommends that aged care facilities keep comprehensive medical assessments in a prominent place on residents’ files, along with their GP’s contact details.
The study also found that an integrated shared electronic health record system, would improve information sharing between aged care and acute facilities.
GPpartners has developed an e-health record system called Health Record eXchanfe (HRX).
It now connects 285 GPs and five hospitals and integrates with existing clinical software.
“Discussions with local aged care services in our divisional area regarding their integration with the HRX have been very positive and this recent study further highlights the advantages for residents and staff,” Dr Kidd said.