GET INVOLVED: NEW PATIENT DATA SHARING TOOL WILL IMPROVE QUALITY OF CARE

4 September 2020

We are developing a powerful new tool to help improve the way we care for the communities we serve – and YOU can help.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Record (ICR) is a digital database which will provide health and care professionals with vital information on how best to look after patients.

Currently, GPs and hospitals often do not have all of the health and care information they need about a patient immediately to hand.

That’s because they use different IT systems to record different information, and those systems are not all connected.

That could mean patients being asked the same questions at different places of care; especially about things like medication, allergies and treatment history.

In June 2017 we sent a letter to all households in Coventry and Warwickshire introducing and explaining the ICR.

Since then we have been developing the technology.

The recent experiences of COVID-19 - the need for wider access to data to improve patient care and the speed of diagnosis - has led to the pace of our ICR development being increased.

That means we will very shortly have the ability to share data between organisations that are directly involved in the care of a patient or service-user.

Throughout this month (September), we are asking the people of Coventry and Warwickshire for their views on the Integrated Care Record.

A short survey enables you to let us know what you think – your concerns, your ideas and your expectations.

You can link to the survey here.

There is also the opportunity, within the survey, to register your interest in being involved with the ICR as a ‘critical friend’ – providing feedback and being involved in further surveys as the ICR develops.

This will help us to ensure that the ICR delivers the best solution for patients/service users.

Closing date for responses: Wednesday 30 September 2020.

We are also planning some virtual engagement events where you will be able to speak to the Integrated Care Record programme team directly.

Keep checking this web page for further details of the events.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED….

What is an Integrated Care Record (ICR)?

An Integrated Care Record (ICR) is a consolidated electronic record of a person’s care. It takes information directly from existing systems used by health and social care organisations and presents it in a structured, easy to read format for health and care professionals.

The ICR will provide all health and care professionals directly involved in the care of a patient/service user with a more joined up view of a patient’s care and treatment across all care settings.

The ICR has been developed in response to the feedback from many of you over a number of years, telling us that you only want to tell your story and share information once when receiving care from any health or social care organisation across Coventry and Warwickshire.

What data will be available and who will be able to see it?

The first phase of the ICR will allow health and care professionals directly involved in your care to view:

Your GP practice medical record
Basic secondary care and mental health data
Radiology and pathology results
Having access to this data will help them provide you with the best care as quickly as possible without having to make phone calls or wait for faxes etc.

Initially we will join together data from GPs and provide a view of this data to staff at hospital Emergency Departments.

We will also, if required, share the data with the Nightingale hospital (the hospital set up to help manage COVID-19).

Community and social care organisations, the ambulance service, and 111 will be added over time.

The ICR will continue to develop, allowing more health and care professionals access to more data across more health and social care settings.

The data will only be available to health and care professionals directly involved in your care.

At the point of receiving care, you will be asked for permission to access your data.

In an emergency situation it may not always be possible to ask.

There are strict rules how we use your data and as part of this work we will ensure your data is managed and shared appropriately and in line with all legal requirements including the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. All access will also be subject to audit.

Which organisations are involved with the Coventry & Warwickshire ICR?

The following organisations are involved in the development of the ICR programme:

GP practices within Coventry and Warwickshire through their membership of the Integrated Care Boards
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
Coventry City Council
Warwickshire County Council
West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust

What do I need to do?

You do not need to do anything. When the ICR ‘goes live’ the technology will automatically access your data. We are planning for the ‘go live’ to happen Autumn 2020.

If you have previously opted out of data sharing then you will be opted out of the ICR.

If you have previously opted out of data sharing but would now like your data to be shared through the ICR then you should contact your GP practice.

What are the benefits to me of having my data shared?

The benefits to you include:

Not having to repeat your details every time you have a different episode of care
Better and potentially faster treatment due to access to better information
Reduction in medication errors by being able to access medication history (past and present)
Ability to treat COVID-19 patients more effectively due to background knowledge of pre-existing conditions and medications

What if I do not want my data to be shared?

You can agree or disagree to share your information at any time; the decision is entirely up to you.

If you do not wish for your information to be shared, please advise staff at your care provider.

You can also decline access to your data at point of treatment at any of the providers of your health and social care.

Please be reassured that we take the security of your information very seriously. Your Integrated Care Record will only be viewed by those who are directly involved in your care at that moment in time. This will help them make the right decisions to ensure you receive the best care possible at all times.

For further information email: agem.integratedcarerecord@nhs.net

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