Digitised records are a key component for successful healthcare. Paper-based records are not just inefficient and take up space, “they also carry the risk of spreading infection”, Nash said. There is a risk of them getting lost, Nash points out. It’s not unusual for hospitals to transfer records around cities “in the back of taxis and even the basket of bicycles”. That’s before you factor in the risks of doctors’ handwriting. EMR is a more efficient, lower-cost option for hospitals that includes the eradication of unnecessary duplicate tests and provides better outcomes for patients, he added. It’s also an area in which Ireland lags.

We were delighted to host the 3rd Council of Clinical Information Officers (CCIO) meeting which took place in our Head Office in Dublin on the 16th of September. The full day event which was attended by over 60 members was broken into three core areas, breakout sessions and and address by Richard Corbridge, HSE CIO.

Brazil is a country with many opportunities when it comes to EPR/EMR implementations. This was spotted by Andrew Murphy CEO of Sláinte Healthcare. An article in Health IT, Brazil's leading eHealth magazine discusses the different issues that need to be acknowledged when it comes to the successful implementation of an EPR/EMR.