The Debate "This house believes that clinical information is not useful in interdisciplinary care".
This is not a record of proceedings this will be published at a later date. This is a personal review.
This was the first time that the British Computer Society's Nursing & Primary Health Care Specialist Groups had held a joint conference. The chosen theme "Clinical Informatics - A Healthy Alliance" was enhanced by the interchange of views between the attendees from both specialist groups.
There was an open atmosphere, enhanced by chats over coffee, beer etc.
Thursday 6th November
|
|
|
|
10.30 | Introduction & opening address | Chair - Prof. Graham Wright | Graham set out the purpose of the conference. |
10.45 | Keynote Address | Prof. Dennis Protti | Dennis covered definitions of nursing informatics, before
giving a "report card" on the NHS IM&T strategy so far, from his
international perspective. When clinical care maps/pathways etc. he suggested that Integrated Care with Cost Awareness would be the new term for fundholding. |
11.30 | Clinical privacy - What does it mean today? | Dr Fleur Fisher | Fleur, in her inimitable style, considered where we are now
in relation to clinical privacy and some insights into the debates between the
BMA & NHSE. The theory and reality were both included from professional and
political standpoints. Fleur is launching an Organisation for Clinical Privacy - If you are interested please contact her on; fleurfisher@dial.pipex.com |
12.00 | The European Telenurse Project | Nick Hardicker | Nick described the work of the "Telenurse Project" and the ICNP which attempts to describe nursing phenomena and actions with a universal language to enable comparison. Feedback for the ICN is being worked on. |
12.45 | EPR- its effect on nurses and other healthcare professionals | Petula Harrison | Petula set out some of the lessons learnt from the EPR pilot site at Burton on Trent. Particular issues revolved around handheld computers, prescribing modules and staff education and training. |
14.00 | Parallel sessions;
|
Various | I only attended the Education & Multimedia group - but I understand all groups were useful & productive. |
16.45 | Why nurses should not have Nursing Systems | Vic Peel | Vic argued that nursing information systems should be integrated with systems used by other members of the multi-disciplinary team. |
17.15 | Closing Remarks | Graham Wright | |
17.30 | NSG AGM (Members only) |
Friday 7th November
|
|
|
|
09.30 | Chairman's Introduction | Dr Glyn Hayes | |
09.45 | Clinical Information for Research | Dr Ross Lawrenson | Ross described and illustrated the advantages and limitations of using large scale aggregated data from GP databases to achieve large samples for medico-pharmaceutical studies. |
10.30 | Nursing Informatics in England from a National perspective | Paddy McGowan | Paddy described the work of various organisations working in the field and how their work fits together. |
11.00 | Clinical Guidelines in Action | Cheryl Cowley | Cheryl described the development and introduction of clinical guidelines. |
11.30 | Multi-professional clinical information issues - a national perspective | Patricia Flannagan | Cheryl described the emerging work of the Clinical professions Information Advisory Group, and commented on the similarity & relationship with NSG/PHCSG |
12.00 | IT as a support tool for clinical guidelines | Ann Casey | Ann used paediatric examples to illustrate the integration of clinical guidelines to IT systems, and highlighted ways this can help practitioners & enhance care. |
14.00 | Keynote address | Simon Old | Simon placed the conference in its wider context,
describing work on the forthcoming white paper, with emphasis on partnership
& reducing inequalities, with the creation of health Action Zones. he went
on to encourage everyone to contribute to the review of the IM&T strategy
being conducted by Frank Burns. Key Issues included;
|
14.30 | The Debate "This house believes that clinical information is not useful in interdisciplinary care". | Ann Casey Dr Neil Jones Dr David Markwell Elizabeth Rahim |
The highlight of the conference, in my opinion. |
16.00 | Chairman's closing remarks | Brian Layzell | |
Saturday 8th November
I was unable to be present for the Saturday and therefore can not provide
any comments.
|
|
|
10.30 | Introductory remarks | Dr Mike Bainbridge (? Alison Young) |
11.00 | Computer systems can improve patient care? but are they worth the cost ! | Dr Neill Jones |
12.00 | Interactions, Contra-indications & prescribing Guidelines - "Necessary Evils" or "Essential Tools" - Prodigy in Practice | Dr Dai Evans |
13.45 | PRESTIGE - A pressure for change. Helping to make evidence-based medicine work | Dr Colin Gordon |
14.30 | Information Issues for Community Focused Care | Roger Dewhurst |
15.00 | Towards quality data - "Stick or Carrot" | Sheila Teadale |
15.45 | Plenary - Where do we go from here? | Dr Glyn Hayes |
Education Focus Group - Thurs 6th November 1997 - 2.00-4.45
Introduction to E&MM FG - Elaine Ballard
Using the Internet to Support Teaching & Learning - Carol Cooper
Understanding Surgery: Multimedia learning Comes to the Theatre - Sue
Dakin/Martin Pleura/Mike Garner
Electronic Discourse - the last 5 years. - Peter Murray
Connecting through the Internet: Now & the near future.
Generally this was a good focus group session, with lots of informal exchanging of information.
The Debate "This house believes that clinical
information is not useful in interdisciplinary care".
This debate, chaired by Simon Old, started with a vote on the motion, which was unanimously defeated. " speakers for the motion (Dr Neill Jones & Ann Casey) & against (Dr David Markwell & Elizabeth Rahim) put their case. This was very well presented, if a little tongue in cheek at times. The debate was then opened to the floor, and a wide range of comments and discussion ensued. This touched on the nature or nursing information, the differences & similarities between this & the information needs of other members of the multidisciplinary team. Others argued that nursing information was not useful now as it could not be shared, but would be in the future. Perspectives from nurses, doctors, and a patient covered a wide range of angles especially as some people adopted viewpoints which do not accurately reflect their own position.
At the end speakers were given an opportunity to "sum up" &
then another vote was taken. The majority were still against the motion,
however the fact that some changed sites & others abstained could be seen
as a moral victory for the proposes of the motion.
The AGM was the business meeting of the NSG. Reports were given about the
membership & financial situations. Discussion ensued about ways to increase
membership & develop the journal Information Technology In Nursing (ITIN).
The results of the elections for the new committee were announced - including
me :-)
During the conference, I coordinated a daily electronic report sent by email to the nurse-uk & BHIA mailing lists. I basically got people to contribute a paragraph on anything related to that day at the conference, by pestering them at dinner or in the bar. You can judge the results for yourself by clicking on the links below;
Travel to Liverpool wasn't too bad for me, others spent longer getting there. The Gladstone Hotel was adequate, but can we have some real ale in the bar next time please.
All the social activities, dinner & after dinner speaker were extremely enjoyable.
If you have any questions or comments please mail me; Rod@RodSpace.co.uk
Page Created: 10.11.97
Last Updated: 3.9.03