The practice makes extensive use of a clinical computer system to help in its administration, record keeping and clinical decision making. The practice is registered under the Data Protection Act and is confident that it follows the regulations and adheres to the principles of the act. The practice makes use of electronic links with hospital lab systems to receive blood results, as well as sending referral letters from the computer system to hospitals. These letters include important past medical history such as operations and illnesses that you have had or still have. In many cases this is vital information for the hospital consultants to have, and not including this information may jeopardise your care and health. If you wish to discuss this please contact the Practice Manager.
The practice together with most others in Scotland is included in the Emergency Care Summary (ECS) and SCI Diabetes (SCI-DC)projects. The ECS program each day records the medication that each person is prescribed by the practice, as well as any allergies to medication that you may have. If you have to contact NHS 24, or are admitted to casualty or hospital, this information can be looked up so that you are not given any medication that you are allergic to, or would interfere with one that you are taking. You will always be asked if you agree to this before your record is opened except in dire medical emergencies.
SCI-DC is for diabetic patients. As well as their medication and allergies, other information such as blood pressure, blood results etc are uploaded to the system. This allows your information to be shared between hospital clinics, the nurses, dieticians etc, that are involved in your care, to ensure that all diabetic patients receive the best possible care.
Both systems are audited, and breach of any of the regulations by staff is a disciplinary offence. We agree with most practices in Scotland that these systems are major advances in the care of patients. We will examine any extensions to these programs as well as any other systems that are suggested and introduce them if they offer the same benefits.