Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) has partnered with Orion Health to launch a shared care record, revolutionizing health and care services in the region.
Launched on 27 August 2024, this digital solution consolidates essential health information from various healthcare providers, including hospitals, GP practices, mental health, and community services, with plans to incorporate social care data soon. The goal is to empower health and care professionals with real-time information, reduce duplication, and facilitate informed decision-making.
Data sharing is underway with organizations such as Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, IC24, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Provide CIC, and 145 GP practices in the mid and south Essex region. This includes key information like medical conditions, medications, allergies, referrals, demographics, discharge summaries, and mental health records.
NHS Mid and South Essex CEO, Tom Abell, emphasizes that this shared care record is a crucial step towards integrating health and social care in the region. The immediate access to patient information enhances safety, reduces duplication, and enables coordinated and personalized care.
The integrated system allows professionals to access patient records seamlessly through their existing IT systems without additional logins. This read-only format ensures quick access to vital information without disrupting workflow, ultimately improving patient safety and allowing caregivers to focus on delivering quality care.
The shared care record, expected to save £1.7 million annually in efficiencies, was accessed by 1,296 professionals in its first week to support the care of 9,381 patients. Mark Hindle, VP EMEA at Orion Health, views this launch as a significant step towards a fully integrated health system, enabling seamless information sharing and improving patient care through technology advancements like AI.
The future development of the system will include expanding to incorporate adult social care services from the local authorities within Mid and South Essex ICS, further enhancing integration between health and social care services. Additionally, the trust has introduced an AI solution and communication platform to reduce missed appointments and enhance waiting times.
