Media Release

19 August 2009

New electronic patient notes transfer project out for consultation

The vision of a person-centred and provider-friendly health system is becoming a reality with the progression of the GP2GP Patient Notes Transfer Project. Health practitioners are now being asked to provide input into the project.

GP2GP will enable the safe, electronic transfer of patient information between general practices. Currently, around 375,000 patient records are transferred between practices each year, by fax or standard mail. This can be inefficient and can also mean that vital pieces of patient history are buried in notes or re-entered incorrectly.

Wellington GP and member of the GP2GP Steering Group, Dr Richard Medlicott, says GP2GP will have numerous benefits for his practice.

“We are behind this project 100 percent. GP2GP will mean enhanced patient safety, better coordination of care, and improvements in the way patients’ conditions are managed when changing GPs."

“As a result, GPs will be better informed and there will be a more effective and efficient use of practice management time too.”

Patients will benefit from improved health outcomes, better clinical decision-making, less duplication of tests and a reduction in errors.

“GP2GP will reduce the potential loss of medical history when people move and will ensure that the person’s most important health information is readily available to their new GP,” says Dr Medlicott.

As part of the project, GPs, practice nurses, practice managers, vendors and others involved with health information are now being asked to provide input into the draft user requirements to help define the system and plan for any required changes.

The user requirements were drafted by the project steering group which has strong representation from general practice and is led by the Ministry’s Chief Advisor for Primary Health Care, Dr Jim Primrose.

“Defining user requirements is an important step in designing the GP2GP system, as is testing these requirements with the general practice community,” Dr Primrose says.

IPAC Acting General Manager and Steering Group member, Fiona Thomson, says GP2GP is demonstrating a new way of working, with primary care partnering with the Ministry.

"GP2GP is very important to primary care in terms of quality and safety of general practice care. GP2GP will also create foundational standards that will be used in a range of electronic transfer of care initiatives across the health system."

Alan Hesketh, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Health’s Information Directorate, says GP2GP is a priority project for the Ministry and the health sector.

“A recent Health and Disability Commissioner’s report highlights just how important patient history is to the delivery of care and that there are considerable risks to patients during the transfer of care between GPs.”


People can have their say on user requirements by visiting www.moh.govt.nz/gp2gp.


ENDS

For queries, please contact Luz Baguioro, Media Advisor (04 496 2349, 021 802 622)