Digital patients’ records doubts after University College London investigation
Published: 24 June 2010
by TOM FOOT
A THREE-YEAR investigation into digital patient records has concluded that their benefits are exaggerated.
A report by researchers at University College London found Summary Care Records did not reduce consultation times or increase patient safety.
The report added that any benefits would only be achieved at “high cost and enormous effort”.
Lead author Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, now professor of primary health care at Queen Mary, University of London, said: “This research shows that the significant benefits anticipated for these programmes are, by and large, yet to be realised.
“When we did find them, they were subtle, hard to articulate and difficult to isolate.”
All patients in Camden received a letter in March warning them that their personal medical records were going online. The system allows medical professionals access to information about patients through a swipe card.