CLEFTSiS selects ExcelicareTM as their National Managed Clinical Network system
Many multi-disciplinary teams, often dealing with small numbers of patients, have historically provided treatment for patients with CLP. The problems associated with this were identified by the Clinical Standards Advisory Group and SNAP reports, which made recommendations for change. Accordingly a National Managed Clinical Network (NMCN) for Cleft Lip and Palate was established on 1st April 2000. The objective of the NMCN is to care for these patients, as far as possible in their own locality, whilst adhering to national guidelines and, through clinical governance, to monitor the standards of care against established international standards.
The NMCN comprises cleft surgeons, orthodontists, speech and language therapists specialist nurses, geneticists, ENT / audiology specialists, paediatric dentists and clinical psychologists working in Primary and Secondary care organisations at different sites in Scotland. Care for a CLP patient extends from birth until 20 years and throughout this time there must be close co-operation in order to integrate treatment. Communication must be clear and records available at all sites for all consultations. At present, communication within the network is less than ideal because it is based on correspondence in different sets of patients' notes held in different localities by different specialties. Also, the records to assess the quality of care using internationally agreed outcome measurements are not readily available for analysis.
Funding was therefore provided by the Scottish Telemedicine Action Forum (STAF) to develop an EPR. The procurement process was undertaken within the framework of EC/WTO rules governing Public Sector procurement and AxSys Technology was selected to provide ExcelicareTM as the EPR and collaborative care system to enable CLEFTSiS to meet their aims and objectives.
Initially, ExcelicareTM will be installed at 5 sites: Perth, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Following a period of evaluation, it is hoped to roll out the system to at least 20 additional centres in Scotland. The development of an EPR for Cleft Lip and Palate patients will also be of interest to Regional Cleft Centres in England and Wales as well as centres in Europe and other parts of the world.
"As Convenor of the IT and Audit group of CLEFTSiS I am very keen to facilitate the delivery of seamless, quality care to patients with cleft lip and palate and to improve the collection of records on which outcome assesments are made. An EPR is the foundation on which these goals can be achieved. I believe ExcelicareTM has the power and flexibility to provide what we require and the staff at AxSys Technology have the understanding to deliver what we need" commented John Clark, Consultant Orthodontist and CLEFTSiS EPR Project Team Leader, based at Perth Royal Infirmary.
The ExcelicareTM multi-disciplinary care record has been developed specifically to accommodate the special requirements of collaborative care systems and managed clinical networks, in particular. ExcelicareTM incorporates a system of user friendly and clinically familiar folders for the storage and review of all clinical documents and multi-media items, including X-rays, DICOM 3 images, audio and video. The extensive Form, Chart and Document Designer Toolkits and the Form Library allow the system to be tailored to meet the unique demands of multi-disciplinary CLP patient management.
Should you require further information, Mr. Clark, Consultant Orthodontist at Perth Royal Infirmary would be interested in discussing the CLEFTSiS system with you and he can be contacted at 01738 473791 or by email at john.clark@tuht.scot.nhs.uk
