The College is leading an urgent joint call for the national standardisation of electronic health records (EHRs) in eye care, which we believe is essential to improve services, outcomes and patient experience.
Organisations representing professionals in primary, secondary, NHS and independent care settings, including The College of Optometrists, Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) and The Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB), have united to appeal for agreed eye care information standards. In a newly-published position statement, they make several asks of policymakers. These include:
- Commissioning eye care information standards based on datasets developed by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and The College of Optometrists
- Alignment of EHR systems with these standards
- Making the necessary financial investment
- Training staff to collect and input patient information into EHRs.
College President Professor Ben Burton said: “For some time now, we have recognised that joint working and standardisation are key to improving our patients’ experience, and we are pleased to be working in collaboration with professionals across different eye care settings.
“The current lack of standardisation causes delays to diagnoses and treatments for patients and increased workloads and inefficient working practices for optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is clear that change and innovation are needed, and we are encouraged to see this recognised by the government with the announcement of the single patient record in the 10 Year Health Plan.”
Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom, President of The College of Optometrists, said: “With primary care optometrists playing an important and growing role in the delivery of commissioned services and multidisciplinary shared care schemes, having access to standardised electronic health records is key to improving patient care and enabling effective referrals, data sharing and communication. We look forward to collaborating with commissioners, developers and eye care professionals to ensure these recommendations are implemented.”
IHPN Clinical Director Dr Howard Freeman said: “Accurate and up-to-date shared patient records are a vital part of delivering high quality care, and as a major provider of eye care for both NHS and private patients, the independent sector is pleased to be working with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists to support calls for the standardisation of electronic health care records – ensuring that patients experience seamless care, regardless of where they received it.”
Professor Bernard Chang, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Clinical Partner, Newmedica, said: “Having a standardised EHR that is functional and accessible across every provider would increase efficiency and patient safety in the way we deliver eye services.”
The Optegra leadership team said, “With the recent signing of the NHS and Independent Sector Partnership Agreement, the government has acknowledged the essential and evolving role of the independent sector in improving access to healthcare. As an established provider of NHS eye care, Optegra supports this statement, which highlights the need for clinical information to follow patients, enabling timely and safe treatment at whichever provider they choose.”