Graphnet has been awarded a contract to link NHS and local government organisations in the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent area and provide a single integrated care record for the region’s care professionals and 1.1 million residents.
Graphnet’s CareCentric shared care record will enable health and social care professionals from across the health economy to view and contribute information, relevant to the individuals they are caring for, in a safe and confidential way. It will provide them with all the information they need at the point of care, helping them look after people safely and effectively. The project will involve integrating 151 GP practices, two acute trusts, three community and mental health trusts, two councils and six CCGs.
CareCentric will also be used to create single cross-organisational care plans so care professionals across the community can work together on an individual’s care. Individuals will also benefit from the myCareCentric Personal Health Record which engages them as a proactive partner in their own care process by making it possible for them to access their record and manage elements of their own care.
Whether individuals are being treated by their GP, in a community-based service or in hospital, their shared digital care record will be accessible 24/7 either independently or within patient context from an existing system, with appropriate permissions and consent.
Practitioners will have access to a comprehensive and up-to-date record for their patients’ medical and care needs, making care safer and reducing duplication. It will prevent patients being asked for information repeatedly and ensure that their care preferences are shared and understood by all practitioners caring for them.
“Local people have told us that they want their health and care records to be available to practitioners who care for them, which means that they only need to share their health history once,” said Simon Whitehouse, Programme Director, Together We’re Better. “By connecting these pockets of information, it will help us to be more efficient, so we can improve quality and outcomes for those being treated and cared for across both health and care.”
Brian Waters, CEO, Graphnet, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to fulfil their programme for better care co-ordination with a connected service. CareCentric will ensure that patients being treated or cared for experience a smooth transition through their pathway of care and safeguarding requirements are fully supported.”
Graphnet is holding a one-day workshop next month on shared care records best practice.
The Big Share will demonstrate how to successfully deploy shared care records and population health – featuring case studies from Berkshire West ICP and Frimley ICS (the Berkshire Connected Care programme) and Greater Manchester Care Record.