About Information Management and Technology
Our Mission:
- To optimise the use of technology in healthcare, to satisfy users and to facilitate better patient care through the effective use of technology
- To facilitate improved communication across all Directorates and Departments within the organisation
IM&T is currently Focusing on 5 key areas:
- IT Infrastructure
- Data quality & Information development
- Supporting clinical care
- Supporting information for patients & the public
- Developing people within the department
Overview of IM&T
The Information Management and Technology Directorate encompasses the following services within the Trust:
- IT Services
- Information Systems
- Data Quality & Information Governance
- Clinical Coding
- Information
- Patient Services
The Directorate consists of 70 staff. The Directorate is headed up by Dr. Zafar Chaudry, Director of IM&T and Cathy Fox, Deputy Director of IM&T.
The IM&T directorate has recently won four international and national awards:
2007 Information Age (UK) Effective IT Award Winners for Most Effective Use of IT in Public Services
2007 Information Age (UK) Effective IT Award Winners for Most Effective Enterprise-Wide Infrastructure
2007 Computerworld Honors Program (USA) Gold Medal Winner in Healthcare
2007 CNET Public Sector Technology Project of the Year
About IT Services
This team is responsible for the provision of the support and maintenance of the Trust’s Computer Network Infrastructure, Server Farms, Computer Hardware and Software Applications. They also provide desktop, laptop, printer repairs and maintain a fix rate of 100% within 24 hours.About IT Services
About Information Systems
The information systems team is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Trust’s primary patient information system, MEDITECH. This system is known as an integrated Hospital Information System (HIS) and is used to store patient information throughout the organisation. For example, all inpatient drug prescribing is done electronically as is their administration. The team provides full out of hours on-call support 7 days a week.
The team also supports and trains staff around the Trust in other IT systems, these include web based viewing systems for accessing laboratory and radiology test results. The recently played an essential role in the implementation of a new Radiology digital X-ray System. This team also runs a BCS accredited ECDL centre that maintains a 99.9% pass rate.
About Data Quality
This team is responsible for maintaining the availability of complete, accurate, relevant and timely data about patients. The quality of information limits the capability to make operational decisions about the way care is, planned, managed and undertaken. Poor information quality leads to poor decision making and may put service users at risk. High quality information means better, safer patient care
About Information Governance
Information Governance is the way by which the NHS handles information about patients and employees – in particular personal and sensitive information. Government legislation and guidance relating to information Governance is adhered to throughout the Trust.
About Clinical Coding
In essence, the clinical coding process is the translation of written medical terminology from the patients’ health records (electronic or case notes) into alphanumeric codes. All patients admitted to NHS Hospitals (inpatient / day cases) in the UK will have diagnostic and procedure codes assigned to their episode of care to indicate the reason for admission and the investigations and treatments they received. These codes are then entered into electronic information systems both locally and nationally. In addition to inpatients and day cases, patients who have certain procedures performed in the outpatients department will be assigned diagnostic and procedural codes. During the financial year 2006/07 the department coded 39,989 inpatient/day case patient episodes and 37,627 outpatient attendances.
About Information
The information team produces a variety of information to very tight deadlines. A major component of this is the production of monthly datasets that allow the Primary Care Trusts to monitor activity against the contracts the hospital has with them. If these datasets are not submitted in accordance with set deadlines, then a financial penalty is incurred. The team also compiles and submits returns to the Department of Health showing the achievement of the hospital against current targets, such as waiting times for inpatient procedures and outpatient appointments; levels of activity in the Emergency Room; and admissions during the previous week.
