Alex Health

Every time we have an interaction with our patients, we make a record of what is discussed, any treatments or advice given or any procedures that take place.

This information is crucial because it provides a continuous record of care, making it safer and more efficient. Anyone who delivers care has a role in creating these records.

At present, we use a number of digital systems to do this as well as recording some information on paper. This means that different sets of information are in different places.

And whilst our clinicians are good at pulling this information together to give a comprehensive view of care, this can sometimes take time, cause inconvenience or introduce risk. A new electronic health record, used by everyone, will address this.

Of course, Alex Health is much more than a digital version of written notes. It can help us to run our hospital and our services, allowing clinicians to order tests or medications electronically, review results remotely and see which beds are in use. It can also prompt the administration of medication, support the planning of care, flag up potential risks or allergies and pull together different pieces of information to suggest emerging illness or decline in a patient’s condition.

It will never replace the experience or knowledge of our clinical staff - but it will support them to do the best job they can for you.

• Improved safety of care
• Reduced repeat testing with the availability of results across care settings
• Avoid repeating the same information to different clinicians
• Increased clinician awareness of your key information e.g. allergies and additional needs
• Reduced hospital attendances and admissions as clinicians will be aware of treatment for any pre-existing conditions and treatment plans
• Improved access to appointment booking including rescheduling
• Better support to help you manage your own care

At present, only those directly involved in the care of a patient need to access their care record. This will not change with our new system.

Staff who need to access records will be assigned a secure access method which uniquely identifies them. Their details will be recorded for every action that is taken on the system and this will be regularly audited.

‘Health Information Exchange’ allows GPs to view some relevant information about their own patients and trust clinicians will be able to access GP records. The Alex Health system will also be used to send discharge summaries and any other records of care/test results to local GPs and others outside the Trust involved in a patient’s care (such as a district nurse).

The records of patients attending a Genito-Urinary Medicine Sexual Health department will remain entirely separate.

No, the electronic patient record is central to the care we offer, and all patient care will be recorded on the system.

The system will be accessible from computers, tablets and other hand-held devices. As the system contains confidential information a secure login will always be required.

If a patient believes that incorrect information is held, they should discuss this with staff. Staff have an obligation to keep information current and correct and should take every opportunity to update details where required.

In the course of a consultation with a patient, clinicians will gather information relevant to their care. All of this should be recorded. Clinicians should encourage patients to share as much background as is useful for the delivery of care. In addition to this, non-patient facing staff will be able to update the record with any information they receive.

The amount of time spent in hospital will always be a clinical judgement, however things such as ordering tests, developing discharge plans and managing take-home medications should be more efficient. 

The information in the system will support clinical decision-making and may result in an earlier discharge. This will support patients leaving hospital in a more timely way.

Yes. The Data Protection Act 1998 allows patients to find out what information we hold about them. They can request informal access when they receive care. This includes under 16s.

We are also planning to have a ‘Patient Portal’ for the system, giving patients access to an agreed set of information about their care. In special circumstances the law allows us not to show patients their information (if we consider it will be harmful to them). More guidance will be issued on this. 

Patients can also request formal access to their records and may be charged for this access. There is information for patients about this on the trust website.

Yes, it is a fundamental requirement that Alex Health processes personal information fairly, lawfully and transparently under data protection legislation. Personal information will not be shared for a purpose that is incompatible with the purpose of provision of healthcare.