In our latest think-piece, Dorset Council’s Chief Executive Matt Prosser highlights how our shared care record is helping people get the right treatment by the right person at the right time.
Today I had the privilege of spending some time with members of the Dorset Care Record (DCR) team, like many partnerships they are drawn from a wide range of host organisation, from acute hospitals, Integrated Care Boards and project staff hosted by Dorset Council.
I have often heard about the positive work of the DCR team and how the way that records can be easily accessed is such a benefit to the organisations accessing this and most importantly the individuals receiving care. “Better informed, means better care” as the mantra goes, and it makes sense, and seems simple, but as we all know just because an idea is simple it does not mean it is easy to deliver.
Behind the simple idea of giving users and health and social care staff easy access to real time data, health plans and reports, is the complexity of the system. However, the team seek to make it as simple as possible to access, ensuring data is held in compliance with the relevant standards in force.
By joining up all the records held across health and social care, we can bring benefits to all partners and users, ranging from better decisions giving better health outcomes, through to saving time (no more searching around for files) and reducing cost through simple things like less paper, removing wasted visits to people who may not be at home but in hospital – or vice-a-versa.
The benefit for our residents is clear; helping people get the right treatment by the right person at the right time; helping people to manage their own care by being able to access records rather than having to request them from their GP or Consultant; stopping people having to repeat their health story every time they see a new health or social care professional.
I shall be keen to understand how we maximise the benefits of the Dorset Care Record for the health our people and communities first and foremost, but also for the efficient health of our organisations and those of our partners. Everyone involved in health and social care is busy enough – so why not ease some of that pressure by contributing to and accessing the records easily through DCR.
Thanks, DCR team – great to spend some time with you.”
- Up to 400 Dorset Council adult social care staff are currently trained to use the DCR. Recent case studies involving DC staff can be found at How our shared care record is used by adult safeguarding triage workers – Dorset Care Record (dorsetcouncil.gov.uk) and DCR – Providing reassurance for case support coordinators – Dorset Care Record (dorsetcouncil.gov.uk)
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