Enabling health care students to lead patient care

In 2008 the DoH stated that sophisticated information management and technology were crucial to improving the quality of patient care and increasing patient safety. In 2009 the GMC followed by specifying that doctors should make effective use of computers and information systems and apply the principles, method and knowledge of health informatics to medical practice. These principles were acknowledged and addressed by Leeds University medical school as they recognised that the use of technology in general was changing the medical undergraduate’s (students) learning journey. Plus in general practice the use of technology was rapidly evolving with the increasing use of Clinical Information Systems (CIS) and electronic medical records. In order to ensure the students of the day were fit for purpose when qualifying, this needed to be reflected in the curriculum. The ‘Clinical Information Systems for Patient Care’ (CIS4PC) project was developed at Leeds University with TPP SystmOne. Leeds was the first University in the United Kingdom to incorporate the use of a ‘live’ CIS into the classroom as part of the student’s preparation for clinical placements in general practice. CIS4PC teaching has been delivered through a combined clinical and informatics approach, within the ‘safe’ university environment. Students receive ‘hands on’ interactive teaching (covering various topics including information governance, patient record keeping, the consultation, and chronic disease management). CIS4PC is now fully integrated and spiralled throughout the medical curriculum and is used to expose medical undergraduates to the technology they will experience in practice, thereby developing their practical skills which will enhance the interactive patient experiences. A key objective has been enabling students to explore the CIS and understand how CISs support clinical care (e.g.: decision aids); quality monitoring and patient safety (e.g.: read coding); and communication (e.g.: Choose and Book). Key learning outcomes are specified with built in opportunities for students to experience how technology can benefit them as future practitioners and their patients. Student feedback (2013) has shown clear benefits but also identified they want even more integrated use of digital technology within their education. The session is a standard 20 minute presentation on the project work, brief examples of CIS4PC session content and how we worked together to integrate health informatics and the technology into clinical teaching. CISs are an essential tool for all health care providers/practitioners and yet there is still limited access for health students in a safe learning environment; the students of today are the practitioners of tomorrow and they need to experience the digital technology as students in order to be better practitioners when qualified. Department of Health (2008) High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report. London http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/undergraduate/tomorrows_doctors_2009.asp Outcome 2: 19 Accessed 8/4/14