Tim Walter wrote:
>
> We are currently reducing our paper content in our practice and
> increasing our electronic records, currently I use the computer for all
> consultations with Lloyd George records for letters etc that come in.
>

We use VAMP and operate a dual manual and computer system of history and therapy entries -
ughh! This wastes time but we still aren't happy about the legalities of a purely computerised
medical history.


> My partner is very anxious about the risk of fire theft power failure
> etc to such an extent that she will veto any further progress towards
> paperless status until this is sorted, not totally unreasonably.
>

I agree this isn't totally unreasonable but see later.


> Does anyone have any working solutions to the maintainance of normal
> service in these circumstances.  We do all the proper stuff of backing
> up nightly etc for the return of service for 1-2weeks time but what
> about the following mornings repeat prescriptons etc, recent paperless
> consultations etc.
>

I'm not sure what you mean by the "following mornings repeat prescriptions" - we print
repeat prescriptions as they're entered by staff or in batches from a file at the time rather
than store them on computer overnight (is this what you mean??)

Remembering recent paperless consultations would be a nightmare (for me anyway) and some sort
of foolproof backup would be needed (if that exists).


> My proposed solution is that we "print" a modified patient summary for
> all our patients (13500) into a file, which can then be archived onto a
> DAT tape and transferred to a Laptop as a txt file readable in any
> wordprocessor or spreadsheet program ...

[SNIP]

> Does anyone do this, have any comments or has tried and failed, or can
> it be done easier by another method which would satisfy my partner.
>

I'm not sure how to satisfy your partner but your proposed solution seems a bit fiddly for me.
Couldn't you keep backups off site in the usual way and have an agreement with your hardware
maintenance contractor to deliver a loan fileserver ASAP in the event of theft/theft/power
failure - we use a third party maintenance contractor who seems very amenable. Better still
but more costly is to have a duplicate fileserver off site to be brought in at a moments
notice and plugged in. If all your dumb terminals had been nicked as well then at least you
could print off history summaries from your backup for the morning surgeries.

Having said all this aren't we in danger of becoming a little paranoid where IT is concerned?
I know of a couple of practices who've had all their manual clinical records burned in fires
and had to start from scratch from memory but we don't get overly uptight about arrangements
for protecting Lloyd George envelopes from disaster do we?

Just a thought.

Bill.
--
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Bill Wheeldin

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Chorley Road Surgery
65 Chorley Road
Swinton
Manchester
M27 4AF

Tel: 0161 794 6237
Fax:0161 728 3415
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