Today's site of interest for its implications value. General Accident
Direct now gives on-line quotes for travel insurance. You fill in a form
with pick lists (type of holiday, mode of transport, etc) and backs comes
a quotation. All data sent encrypted.
No doubt we'll soon see an insurance broker offering a single on-line
form which does the business with several GA-type companies.
This makes you think. What if the same thing worked for a hospital's
out-patient appointments? Choose from list of hospitals, choose type of
clinic, select criteria such as 'soon as possible but not a Tuesday' and
back come appointments on offer.
Just suppose this comes to pass: it's technically possible, the security
satisfies everyone, and it can be done from GP Practice while sitting
with patient. Politicos happy.
Now for my real question: where's the incentive for the Practice to
devote scarce GP or reception staff time to do this? Would you do it
'cos it's obviously helpful to the patient? Would there have to be
targets set and yet another IoS made?! (a joke, honest. I'm going to
have to start adding to all messages 'the views given here do not
represent those of my employer!).
GA Direct address: http:/www.ga.co.uk/gadirect
Alan Hyslop
Computing & IT Strategy
Management Executive, NHS in Scotland.
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