This program is designed to raise awareness about the development of the
Electronic Patient Record (EPR) within the NHS.
The CD brings together results of the NHS Executive's three year EPR programme
in acute hospitals and is designed to help individuals or trusts in developing
their own EPR strategy.
It is important to bear in mind that the EPR is a concept not a product and therefore this is not a product demonstration but a collection of materials (Papers, Power point presentations, video clips & links to further resources) exploring the meaning and implementation of EPR.
Because of the group the CD is aimed at some prior knowledge of the EPR
appears to be assumed.
Once the installation has been achieved (see below) the actual content is divided into 6 sections, representing the 6 levels of EPR implementation;
This shows the development most trusts are working through, with almost all having achieved levels 1 or 2 and a range of pilot projects being undertaken at the higher levels.
Each of the 6 sections is accessed via the screen shown in Figure 1.
Within each section a range of options are available file a "file tab" analogy (see Fig 2), which is easy to use.
On the left hand side of each screen are icons linking you to the information about the CD and a thermometer to enable you to move between the different levels.
At the top of the screen is a button bar, which provides access to other functions. To activate the button bar you must first click on a small arrow in the top right hand corner of the screen - this is not intuitive. The functions available enable you to; exit the programme, restart the CD - useful if you need to install further plugin/helper software, and gain further information about the operation of the CD.
The next link is to a program overview. In my view it would have been useful to have this appear as a first screen. Others enable you to print (only available on some screens), and a section on security - this is a power point presentation from the IM&T security pack for nurses, midwives and health visitors, but is also relevant to others clinicians and NHS staff.
Another icon links to a collection of papers produced during the life of the EPR program. These are divided into;
The final two buttons launch a web browser and connect to the EPR web site (either NHS net or Internet), and the final one launches an sgml browser for the program bibliography. Although an sgml viewer is included with the CD insufficient instructions on how to include this and make it seamlessly link with the CD were insufficient in the installation instructions.
When any of the plugin/helper programs are used to access material on the CD and then exited a rather extra button is need to link back to the main screen (Fig 2)
Because of the number of additional pieces of software required for
supplementary information on the CD installation is complex and takes a while.
Both installation and running the software will be enhanced by a high
specification machine (at least P166, 32 Mb Ram etc.).
This CD contains important material for a wide range of staff within the NHS and gives some insight into the directions the EPR is likely to take in a wide variety of trusts.
The program is fairly well put together, starting with a flashy graphics sequence which can get annoying if you have to restart more than once or twice. The range of sources for material, and plugin/helper programs needed to view them mean that full integration of the material has not been achieved.
I believe it would certainly be useful for management & IT staff, but
could also be of interest to others & excerpts could be used for groups in
initial and post graduate education.
Price: £ Free of charge Contact: Sean Brennan, EPR Programme Office, Room 1N 35C, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE, UK EMail: epr@doh.gov.uk or sbrennan@doh.gov.uk Spec: 486/66 MHz Processor (Pentium recommended), Windows 3.11 or Win 95, 16 Mb RAM, Dual Speed CD-ROM drive, VGA display supporting 256 colours at 640x480 resolution, 16-bit sound card & speakers, Microsoft Word and Power point viewer software (included on CD), SGML viewer (included on CD), 30Mb of free disc space. (Recommended: Internet connection and web browser to access on-line information) Reviewer: Rod Ward, Lecturer in Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Sheffield, Winter St, Sheffield S3 7ND, tel 0114 222 9778, Fax: 0114 222 9712 EMail: Rod.Ward@Sheffield.ac.uk |
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Page Created: 14.6.98
Last Updated: 30.8.03