The Challenge
In IT terms, NHS Scotland has been forging ahead for several years, using technology to support high quality patient care. Setting high standards for other parts of the UK, Scotland has developed initiatives to enable consistent practice through the standardisation of IT systems across the health service. By identifying systems that can be used across Scotland in a variety of health services, ministers at the Scottish Executive worked alongside health professionals to discover which IT platforms could assist the development of an efficient and effective national health service.

During this time the Clinical Services Directorate of the then East & Midlothian NHS Trust sought an electronic patient record system. Requiring a system that could provide a central control system and bearing in mind that the installation of an IT system must have the potential to be effective across a number of NHS Trusts in Scotland, the suitable options available were researched.

The Solution
One such platform that fitted the bill for integrating patient records and clinical information through technology was the Tiara system. Designed specifically for therapists by IT solutions provider, Ethitec, Tiara provided a range of functionality to meet the requirements of the allied health professions from physiotherapists and podiatrists to clinical psychologists.

Enabling the management of a therapist's workload through the effective organisation of patient information, therapists were soon able to pass on the benefits of the system to patients, achieving a reduction in waiting times.

Designed as a user-friendly solution, Tiara is an intuitive, workflow-based operating platform, incorporating graphics, colour coding and extensive templates for assessments. Enabling either caseload or appointment-based access to patient records, therapists can then record clinical information such as goals, outcomes, and intervention care plans.

Playing a key role in the development of the system, Brian Brockie, now Physiotherapy Advisor to NHS Lothian Primary & Community Division, and his colleagues worked with Ethitec to provide user feedback on the success of the system in daily practice. The creation of a Scottish Tiara User Forum enables users to correspond via email and face to face at meetings, to discuss their experiences and suggestions for improvement on the Tiara system.

The Benefits
NHS Scotland's Strategic Programme for Information Management and Technology recognised that the right information at the right time provides not only benefits for healthcare workers such as doctors and clinicians, but most importantly the patient experience is also dramatically improved.

Tiara's electronic patient record capabilities have been valued by NHS informatics managers, therapists and patients alike and, most recently, Tiara9's online capability has been bringing all branches of NHS Scotland closer together through the improved networking of patient and service information.

Through the pioneering use of secure web technology, therapists are now able to access information either from their desktop or remotely on their tablet PC when out in the community. Providing a faster and more flexible service for patients by taking into consideration the availability of all local NHS therapists, appointments can be booked in advance with a variety of healthcare specialists at other clinics within the area.

Recognising the benefits that Tiara was bringing to therapists working within his and other organisations, Brockie advocated its inclusion as a system for the National Strategic Programme in Scotland to be used by other Scottish NHS Trusts.

Enjoying the success of its inclusion within the Scottish programme, Ethitec will work with health service professionals in England and Wales to deliver similar benefits to patient care through first class information management.