But my next challenge is far more technical. Before we can reliably enable our patients to view their own records we have to have an efficient, and reliable, process to register them. And here we have challenges. Having established a reliable process to register patients for appointments and repeat medication, there are additional 'back-office' tasks to generate an additional password, set permission and text viewing dates. And after these are circulated to patients they have an additional password to remember, and to navigate through a brand new Practice Website.
Complicated? No-wonder at least one person has locked themselves out of On-Line access altogether! So we will be creating some understandable frustration for the enthusiastic patients before we are confident and reliable in managing this transition.
The software suppliers also have some work to do, to make management and administration of Records Access easy at the GP surgery end. They will also have to consider more useful reports on activity - so we can better understand when it is useful and what patients look at.
SO firmly on my wish list:
- Make it easier to administer
- Improve the reports
- Consider a 'tab' to show the current uploaded 'Summary Care Record'
You never know - it might get more popular with the practices...
Peter S.
