Cheshire health and social care partners have been shortlisted in the ‘Enhancing Care by Sharing Data and Information’ category in the HSJ Awards 2016 for their work on the Cheshire Care Record.
The Cheshire Care Record in an electronic shared record that holds data from primary, acute, community, social, mental health and cancer care providers. The implementation of the record, which went live earlier this year, means that more than 80 different health and care organisations can work from the same patient information, and staff are provided with immediate access to comprehensive care records, directly benefiting patient care.
The record also relieves patients of the frustration of having to repeat their story to different providers of health and social care services.
Jerry Hawker, Chief Officer of NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “The shortlisting is a reflection of the level of cooperation and joint working across health and care providers in Cheshire. I would like to thank all of those who were instrumental in achieving everything that has been done so far.
“The Cheshire Care Record is the only summary electronic shared record in the country that holds data from all of these sectors to give an holistic view of a patient’s status, which is up to date and quick and easy to view at a glance.
“The record will result in a multitude of benefits across all levels. Primarily, this will impact positively upon patient care, and we are delighted to have been shortlisted for the award in recognition of this. In addition, the programme will ensure earlier discharge from hospital, and deliver financial benefits.”
Because the Cheshire Care Record involves so many services, its use will deliver benefits across the board, ranging from a reduction in drug wastage, by ensuring different doctors do not issue the same prescription, to speeding up diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Mr Hawker added: “We are excited about the future of the Cheshire Care Record. The programme is only in its first stages and is already demonstrating its value, and we are thrilled it has been shortlisted for this award. There is still a great deal of potential surrounding the use of digital records in the local area, which can be explored and we are proud to be at the forefront of using system wide records to benefit patient care.”
