Oxfordshire CCG – Safer, more efficient care with the MIG
Acute and urgent care clinicians across Oxfordshire are using the Medical Interoperability Gateway (MIG) to provide safer, more efficient care to over 1,000 patients a month.
Nearly 250 staff, from A&E doctors to out of hours GPs and hospital pharmacists are now able to view real-time GP patient record through the MIG.
Twelve months after going live with the Oxfordshire Care Summary project, an overwhelming 96% of users* said it is helping them to give safer, speedier care. 80% have also reported better clinical outcomes for patients.
How have they benefited?
The MIG has provided them with important information which includes recent medical history, test results, current drugs and allergies. This has allowed them to make faster, better treatment decisions and cut down on phone calls and paper administration.
“The MIG has revolutionised the way pharmacists work on the wards. We are saving a huge amount of time when patients are admitted, because we have access to the information we need within seconds. Before, it took up to 15 minutes per patient to get information by phone and fax. Now, for example, we can check an unconscious patient’s allergy status in seconds, and ensure they are not prescribed inappropriate drugs at a critical part of the treatment. It means safer, better care leading to speedier discharge, and less chance of readmission due to adverse drug reactions.”
The MIG has also helped junior hospital doctors who take the majority of patient drug histories on admission. They can make more accurate records and draw up safer, more tailored treatment protocols. Pharmacists were able to make savings on drugs because they were better able to assess what medication is needed on discharge to the GP’s care.
Maggie Lay, Clinical Transformation lead at NHS Central Southern Commissioning Support Unit said the MIG was ‘extraordinarily useful’ for clinicians caring for long term conditions.
“Our diabetic consultant in particular is finding that he has far more relevant information on patients referred by their GP. On some occasions he has been able to stop the prescribing of an inappropriate drug. The big advantage of the MIG is that it is real time data, when it’s needed, and where it’s needed.”
What next?
“As a commissioner, I am excited about the possibility of setting up integrated care teams of community, social care, acute and emergency staff who will be able to consult shared patient records and care plans via the MIG. We hope that eventually patients will be able to access their records too and become involved in self-care. Besides being better coordinated, this will bring significant economic benefits for healthcare in Oxfordshire.”
*Survey of 77 MIG users carried out by NHS Central Southern Commissioning Support Unit in February and March 2014
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