National Business Review - eHealth Records article

The National Business Review - September 9, 2011: Check-up column compiled by Charlotte Woodfield

Health Minister Tony Ryall last week launched a new electronic health record that will give docors instant access to the medical history of new patients.  Called GP2GP, the system will allow patients' GP records to be transferred electronically rather than faxed or posted in paper copy.  It is another step toward an integrated health IT record, which is centred on the health needs of each patient. The technology has already been piloted in 65 general practices and is due to be rolled out nationwide in coming weeks.  In other health tech news, a new community ePrescribing system is currently undergoing trials at a GP practice and a pharmacy in Auckland.  A wider roll out of ePrescribing is expected over the next two or so years.  It is hoped the system will reduce the need for a patient's medication details to be transcribed from a prescription into the pahrmacy IT system, reducing errors from unclear handwriting or ambiguous terminology.