INFORMATION SHARING CHANGES AHEAD…
We would like all of our patients to be aware that from 11th January 2016 we will be enhancing the sharing process of your Medical Record with any NHS Service who have involvement in your clinical care unless you have chosen to opt out.
At present your GP holds your Medical Record and other NHS Service Providers are not able to access it unless you have given explicit consent to the Practice, therefore often making it very difficult for them to provide the best care for you as they have limited information to base their decision on. By unlocking the Practices side of your Medical Record this will mean that you have the choice at the point of consultation with other NHS Service Providers, to allow the clinical to view vital information that could significantly enhance the quality of the medical care provided to you by the Community or Secondary Care Services.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
STEP ONE: Think of your Medical Record as a window that is bolted on both sides. As from the 11th January 2016, the Doctors of Roundwood Surgery will be unbolting the lock that we are responsible for to all you, the patient to choose if other Health Care Professionals who have any involvement in your care can see your medical record. However, this DOES NOT mean that all other Health Care Professionals automatically have the right to access your medical record without your explicit consent.
STEP TWO: At the point of you having a face to face consultation with the Health Care Professional outside your GP Practice, e.g. attending Accident & Emergency, appointment with a consultant, treatment with a physiotherapist etc. You will be asked if you give consent for the clinician to access your record. At this point it is your decision to grant or deny access and just because you have granted permission on one occasion does not automatically give consent for the consecutive appointments. This is when you, as the patient, have the right to choose if you unbolt the second lock on the opposite side of the window or not. The only time this bolt will be unlocked without your explicit consent will be if you are unconscious and not able to make the decision for yourself.
OPTING OUT
All patients have the right to ‘Opt Out’ of the Enhanced Sharing Process. If you do not wish for Roundwood Surgery to unbolt the lock on their side of your Medical Record then please request an ‘Opt Out Form’ from reception and return it for the attention of the I.T. and Data Quality Manager, Ann-Marie Kerr.
IT PUTS THE PATIENT IN CONTROL OF WHO HAS ACCESS TO THEIR MEDICAL RECORD.
What are the benefits?
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Ensures that the right clinical information is available when and where it is needed.
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Improves protection of confidentialiality and gives more control over how information is shared.
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Reduces the need to duplicate records.
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Enables secure, more efficient access to up-to-date information.
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Betther communication between health care providers