Posts by Ewan
A Paperless NHS
Given the usual scant regard to the commonly accepted meaning of words that seems to be the norm in the NHS – “Paperless” is something that we now have in the majority of general practices and that many have had for some years and I’m really enthusiastic about the desire from the centre to drag the rest…
Read MorePatient record access – A spur to innovation
I’ve been involved in one of the working groups which are part of the RCGP-Led Online Patient Access Project, which has been funded by DH to help deliver on the Government’s promise to deliver online access for all to their GP records and a range of associated transactional services by 2015. As part of this…
Read MoreStandards are a barrier to innovation?
In a world where we are forced to reducing complex messages to sound bites this is mine on standards in health care IT: “Standards are a barrier to innovation”. Of course this is a gross over simplification and in reality standards have an essential part to play in achieving the full potential of health IT…
Read MoreVistA for the NHS
Ewan Davis – Director of Woodcote Consulting shares his thoughts on VistA VistA is the open source electronic health record (EHR) system developed and used in the American Veteran’s Health Administration (VA). It is widely acknowledged that over recent years the VA has transformed itself from one of the worst healthcare provider to probably the best in the USA with its use…
Read MoreAbout this Blog
I created this blog to share some of my random musing about Health Informatics, which I hope will inform and amuse but at least stimulate some debate. Originally hosted separately from my company’s web site, it has now been brought into the fold. I’ve worked in the field since 1981. I’ve done small entrepreneurial start ups,…
Read MoreGP System Change
As the current arrangements for the supply of GP systems under the NPfIT and GPSoC come to an end GPs maybe thinking about a potential system change. In particular some emerging CCGs are promoting system change to achieve a single system on their patch, but my advice would be to wait and I say this…
Read MoreNHS Hack Day – Making an Old Man Happy
I’ve been fortunate enough to fall in with some of those young clinicians and developers organising NHS Hack Day (actually two days 26/27 May 2012 in Central London) http://nhshackday.com and I think this is one of the most exciting things to happen in Health IT for many years. It also fit well with my latest…
Read MoreCutting off your Nose to Spite Your Face
I’m increasingly using social networking and online collaboration tools for projects in my working life and more and more of my clients are using social networks to promote their interests with their customers, service users and the broader community. Without these tools my efficiency would plummet and my clients ability efficiently pursue their objectives would…
Read MoreNHS-Life Sciences Partnership
“The NHS should be “opened up” to private healthcare firms under plans which include sharing anonymous patient data, David Cameron is due to announce” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16026827 25 years ago I launched AAH Meditel. My plan was to give GPs free computers in return for anonymised patient data, which I planned to sell, primarily for life-sciences research.…
Read MoreFuture Funding of GP Computing
I’ve have heard Katie Davis (no relation), the new head of the DH Informatics Directorate, speak twice in the last few days and on both occasions she has stressed the Government’s desire to create a vibrant market for the suppliers of Health IT systems. This is very much to be welcomed. Current arrangements for the…
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