Archive for January 2008
German doctors say no to central EHR database: USB solution suggested
Concerned about increased risks to patient data under the country’s planned eGK EHR programme, Germany’s independent doctors’ association, the NAV Virchow Bundes, has called on the programme’s coordinator, Gematik, and vendors involved in the programme to drop plans to create a centralised patient data repository.
According to the association, Gematik and the German ministry for health is sticking with technology that is insecure and has been overtaken by better alternatives. It points to the loss of 160,000 patient records by the UK NHS and NPfIT, revealed just before Christmas, as proof that centralised EHR databases make patient data far more vulnerable to loss.
“Instead of closing our eyes to other models, we should actively seek alternatives, without preconditions”, says the association’s president, Klaus Bittmann in a press release.
The association prefers a completely decentralised solution, with patients responsible for their own data. The association suggests that the currently planned eGK smartcard could be replaced with a USB card or memory stick, which would have the capacity to carry all a patient’s EHR, clinical and diagnostic data. Such a solution would not require the building of an enormously expensive infrastructure, and would be far more secure.
Patients to view Norwegian EHR data logs
Norway’s most modern hospital, St Olav’s University Hospital in Trondheim, is opening the data logs of its EHR system to patients. This will allow them to see exactly who in the hospital has viewed their patient record.
St Olav’s, which serves the mid-Norwegian region, is the first fully integrated hospital in the Norwegian health service. The hospital features an EHR system fully integrated with its PACS system, with medical images and toolsets available from within the EHR application. The hospital also has advanced medical imaging built into its operating theatres.
The hospital decided to make its EHR data logs available to the public on request following complaints from ten patients. They believe hospital staff have had unwarranted access to their records. One complainant was herself a member of staff at the hospital.
The hospital has strict rules against unauthorised staff access to patient records. It believes the problem is wider than acquaintances or family viewing the records, and can particularly affect patients who are either well known in the media, or political and business leaders. Providing patients access to their data logs will act as a further deterrence. But the hospital points out that with an EHR system, it is now far easier to identify who is viewing individual patient records.
No Big Bang EHR for Denmark
Denmark is adopting a gradual approach to implementing EHR, based on regional programmes, according to the country’s IT strategy for healthcare recently unveiled by the Danish Health Ministry and the five Danish Regions
The strategy will rely on manageable projects, with local and regional agencies playing a decisive role in developments. Strengthening cooperation between all healthcare players is heavily emphasised in the new strategy.
“The strategy is ambitious in its objective of digitalizing health services” says Bent Hansen, Chairman of the Danish Regions. “I am glad that we are emphasising that. At the same time there is a sensible focus on step-by-step development instead of a large ‘big bang’ programme.”
“It also means that we can test out new ideas on a small scale and derive valuable experience so the systems we implement are proven and yet we can stay on the cutting edge of technological development”, adds Hansen.
The strategy runs until 2012 and covers the whole health service – both public and private hospitals, general practice doctors, hospital specialists and home care.
The aim of the new strategy is for a comprehensive electronic patient record to be available to clinicians and other health workers, country-wide. The new strategy also aims to provide patients with greater access to health promotional and management information to allow them to better manage their own health.
