[Wolves] Sun Java Desktop (going off topic in a mad Rant!)

[Steve Ruffles]

Simon asked <huge snip> What kind of stuff are we talking about here? 

I'm not sure I'll get the language right here, but will try to describe a
typical system.

1. Each patient has a record with a unique number.
2. Info' kept on screens accessed by keystrokes one screen for
identification data/ registration/nhs number/dob/demographic data/ address
etc. 
3. Other screens for a/summarised clinical events such as accidents/
operations/illnesses, b/ current and past mediaction, c/ immunisations
given, d/a contemporaneous record of each consulataion with health worker -
with coded and free text entries, plus numerous other screens - I'm sure you
get the idea.  
4. A system for coding disease episodes and other interventions - we
currently use Read Codes, but also a system called ICD10, and another called
SNOMED are in use in NHS and health care systems here and abroad.
5. In built search facilities for audit and research.
6. In built WP/ spreadsheet facility for referral letters.
7. We have on our system access to scanned images of incoming letters about
patients from hospital or elsewhere - bit clumsy and memory hungry I think.
8. A hierarchy of access levels for security and confidentiality of patient
data.
9. Ability to talk to hospital systems so lab results can be downloaded into
patient records.
10.Abiity for it to be interrogated by admindroids software for governance
and payment and performance data.
11.Runs across network - or thin client system.

Must be other things I've missed.
Road testing and approval would be nightmare in current NHS - but not my
field. I'm the bloke who would use it when consulting with patients.
Lots of these sytems about that run on windows in use in NHS mostly crap (no
unfair - just cumbersome and never quite the ticket).
Seen links on web to some open source stuff too (not in UK) - but can't
understand the lingo and haven't seen anything on screen.

I think there'd be a market if NHS migrates from Windows - just might
happen!

Could show you system if you're local/ interested.

Cheers

Steve Ruffles