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Apologies for the delay in contributing to this debate; I have just returned from a Labautomation conference in the States. The scenario described by Jonathan is already a reality at a number of sites over there. The Geisinger Health System, for example, has 6000 patients accessing their electronic medical records via the net. Not only can they view their lab results, they can also request prescription renewals, request referrals, review their medical history, request appointments or e-mail enquiries direct to clinical staff. For further information see http://www.geisinger.edu/mychart/index.shtml Gary Firth Princess Royal Hospital Sussex -----Original Message----- From: Paul Masters [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 31 January 2003 14:52 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Availabilty of lab reports to patients What a terrifying scenario! Consider: The Govt has already given itself permission to open private emails (all in the name of crime prevention of course) Teenage boys routinely hack into the Pentagon and nuclear facilities. The Inland Revenue has discovered staff trawling for celebrity income data to sell to newspapers. There is something to be said for the inaccessible pile of paper which we laughingly call the patient's notes. Paul On Thu, 30 Jan 2003 17:05:37 -0000, Jonathan Middle <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >To resolve this issue, I think we must look forward to a future when >everyone has a unique NHS number and an associated secure >area of the web which contains their electronic health record - every >piece of medical information collected on them during their life time >in readily-searchable format, with links out to authenticated >educational areas which give help and information on specialist >terms, diagnosis and treatment. > >Whenever an investigation is performed on a patient, a copy of the >request, result and interpretation (and lab QA validation??) (plus >who asked for it and did it) is automatically posted to this area for >the patient to view, annotate, ask questions about and set >permissions (on an item by item basis) for who can view / use the >information for their immediate treatment or for research / education >/ QA. > >They will receive an email or SMS message when anything new >has been added to their record or when someone asks to view it, >so that they can give permission or not. > >In the case of a minor, parents or guardians would manage the >child's record for them until they reached an appropriate age to >become involved themselves. > >Of course there will be legal, ethical (and educational) hurdles to >clear, but I believe most of the technical aspects of such a >scenario are possible now. Politics and funding will be major >factors, but is this concept not the thrust of government policy for >the wired-up, patient-centred, open and transparent NHS? > >Is this a realistic future that we as a profession desire and can/are >work/ing towards? > >Best wishes to all. > >Jonathan Middle > > > > > > >============================================ >Jonathan Middle, UK NEQAS Birmingham >tel 0121 414 7300 fax 0121 414 1179 > >This message is intended only for the above >recipient(s). The opinions expressed are >mine alone and do not necessarily represent >those of UK NEQAS Birmingham, the University >Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust or the UK NEQAS >Organisation. >================================================== > >------ACB discussion List Information-------- >This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical >community working in clinical biochemistry. >Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed >via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and >they are responsible for all message content. > >ACB Web Site >http://www.acb.org.uk >List Archives >http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html >List Instructions (How to leave etc.) >http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/ ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/ ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/