A New Clinical Audit Reporting System from E-Docs UK
HODDESDON, HERTFORDSHIRE, 02 FEBRUARY 2007 - South Central Ambulance Service has unveiled a revolutionary new Clinical Audit Reporting System (CARS) that will enable it to handle the increasing volumes of patient related data. Developed in conjunction with e-Docs UK, a leading provider of advanced document management solutions, CARS will provide detailed information about patients including their conditions and all interventions by clinical staff and enable CARS to meet the reporting demands of bodies including JRCALC, MINAP and others.
CARS uses the latest powerful data capture software to extract all the relevant data from scanned documents and stored on DocWorks, an Internet-based information repository. Here it can be accessed 24 hours a day by authorised staff to audit and review interventions carried out by individual ambulance crews and construct performance indicators to be constructed based on rules for the appropriateness and completeness of treatments. The system's exception management capabilities enable serious errors to be quickly highlighted and investigated by Clinical Team Leaders.
According to David Sherwood, Clinical Effectiveness Manager of South Central Ambulance Service: "We believe that CARS is a ground breaking development that will significantly improve the operational and clinical efficiency of Ambulance Services throughout the UK."
The system also enables ambulance crews to maintain their skills portfolio, a record showing their proficiency in a range of skills used for their annual recertification. They can log-in to the system to review forms relating to particular case types such as falls, glycaemic emergency, asthma, strokes, etc and interventions such as cannulations, intubations and defibrillations as well as drugs administered. Images of documents can be displayed or printed without compromising confidentiality or adding to the workload of the clinical department.
CARS will also support full referral management for 'Treat and Refer' patients. In a pilot, run during 2005, the ability to refer patients rapidly to GP’s and intermediate care by giving these external users access to the PRF images dramatically improved the consistency of care and reduced the incidence of patients 'falling through the gaps'.
The next phase of development will focus on Demand Management, identifying ‘hot spots’ where there are regular accidents or injuries caused. These might include falls in specific locations, RTC’s at particular roads, or assaults and alcohol related collapses relative to the location of a bar or club. In a pilot, South Central Ambulance Service has already achieved good results working with Police and Licensing authorities to reduce calls to problem bars and clubs.
