Review of NSG/PHCSG Conference 1997

This is a personal review of the Joint BCS NSG/PHCSG Conference Clinical Informatics - a Healthy Alliance? Gladstone Hotel, Liverpool 6th - 8th November 1997 (Only detail on first 2 days) Rod Ward - 10.11.97

General Intro

Papers

Education Focus Group

The Debate "This house believes that clinical information is not useful in interdisciplinary care".

NSG AGM

Daily Reports

Social & Travel etc.

General Intro

This is not a record of proceedings this will be published at a later date. This is a personal review.

This was the first time that the British Computer Society's Nursing & Primary Health Care Specialist Groups had held a joint conference. The chosen theme "Clinical Informatics - A Healthy Alliance" was enhanced by the interchange of views between the attendees from both specialist groups.

There was an open atmosphere, enhanced by chats over coffee, beer etc.

Papers

Thursday 6th November

Time (approx.)	Title	Speaker(s)	My comments
10.30	Introduction & opening address	Chair - Prof. Graham Wright	Graham set out the purpose of the conference.
10.45	Keynote Address	Prof. Dennis Protti	Dennis covered definitions of nursing informatics, before giving a "report card" on the NHS IM&T strategy so far, from his international perspective. When clinical care maps/pathways etc. he suggested that Integrated Care with Cost Awareness would be the new term for fundholding.
11.30	Clinical privacy - What does it mean today?	Dr Fleur Fisher	Fleur, in her inimitable style, considered where we are now in relation to clinical privacy and some insights into the debates between the BMA & NHSE. The theory and reality were both included from professional and political standpoints. Fleur is launching an Organisation for Clinical Privacy - If you are interested please contact her on; fleurfisher@dial.pipex.com
12.00	The European Telenurse Project	Nick Hardicker	Nick described the work of the "Telenurse Project" and the ICNP which attempts to describe nursing phenomena and actions with a universal language to enable comparison. Feedback for the ICN is being worked on.
12.45	EPR- its effect on nurses and other healthcare professionals	Petula Harrison	Petula set out some of the lessons learnt from the EPR pilot site at Burton on Trent. Particular issues revolved around handheld computers, prescribing modules and staff education and training.

14.00	Parallel sessions; Education & Multimedia Midwifery Mental Health Nursing Language Primary Care South Thames Nursing Informatics Group	Various	I only attended the Education & Multimedia group - but I understand all groups were useful & productive.
16.45	Why nurses should not have Nursing Systems	Vic Peel	Vic argued that nursing information systems should be integrated with systems used by other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
17.15	Closing Remarks	Graham Wright
17.30	NSG AGM (Members only)

Friday 7th November

Time (approx.)	Title	Speaker(s)	My Comments
09.30	Chairman's Introduction	Dr Glyn Hayes
09.45	Clinical Information for Research	Dr Ross Lawrenson	Ross described and illustrated the advantages and limitations of using large scale aggregated data from GP databases to achieve large samples for medico-pharmaceutical studies.
10.30	Nursing Informatics in England from a National perspective	Paddy McGowan	Paddy described the work of various organisations working in the field and how their work fits together.
11.00	Clinical Guidelines in Action	Cheryl Cowley	Cheryl described the development and introduction of clinical guidelines.
11.30	Multi-professional clinical information issues - a national perspective	Patricia Flannagan	Cheryl described the emerging work of the Clinical professions Information Advisory Group, and commented on the similarity & relationship with NSG/PHCSG
12.00	IT as a support tool for clinical guidelines	Ann Casey	Ann used paediatric examples to illustrate the integration of clinical guidelines to IT systems, and highlighted ways this can help practitioners & enhance care.

14.00	Keynote address	Simon Old	Simon placed the conference in its wider context, describing work on the forthcoming white paper, with emphasis on partnership & reducing inequalities, with the creation of health Action Zones. he went on to encourage everyone to contribute to the review of the IM&T strategy being conducted by Frank Burns. Key Issues included; Information for professionals re patients & clinical effectiveness. A skilled professional workforce in information management & use. (Including curriculum developments) Information for the public Infrastructure
14.30	The Debate "This house believes that clinical information is not useful in interdisciplinary care".	Ann Casey Dr Neil Jones Dr David Markwell Elizabeth Rahim	The highlight of the conference, in my opinion.
16.00	Chairman's closing remarks	Brian Layzell

Saturday 8th November

I was unable to be present for the Saturday and therefore can not provide any comments.

Time (approx.)	Title	Speaker(s)
10.30	Introductory remarks	Dr Mike Bainbridge (? Alison Young)
11.00	Computer systems can improve patient care? but are they worth the cost !	Dr Neill Jones
12.00	Interactions, Contra-indications & prescribing Guidelines - "Necessary Evils" or "Essential Tools" - Prodigy in Practice	Dr Dai Evans

13.45	PRESTIGE - A pressure for change. Helping to make evidence-based medicine work	Dr Colin Gordon
14.30	Information Issues for Community Focused Care	Roger Dewhurst
15.00	Towards quality data - "Stick or Carrot"	Sheila Teadale
15.45	Plenary - Where do we go from here?	Dr Glyn Hayes

Education Focus Group - Thurs 6th November 1997 - 2.00-4.45

Introduction to E&MM FG - Elaine Ballard

Focus for the session: crossing the boundaries - Paul Tipping
Enhanced by the use of a reversed red cap as an A.V. aid ?

Using the Internet to Support Teaching & Learning - Carol Cooper

Carol described educational and practical issues surrounding the level 3 module - "Advanced IT for Nurses" (20 credit points, 30 contact hrs). The design and validation, assessment & evaluation of the course was discussed along with teacher support issues.

Understanding Surgery: Multimedia learning Comes to the Theatre - Sue Dakin/Martin Pleura/Mike Garner

This demonstration of educational software about cholecystectomies, showed a program put together by clinical staff from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, to meet needs of nurses, ODPs etc. in learning about this operation and the care required for patients undergoing it. Both the philosophy underlying the development and some of the practical issues were discussed. It is work in progress and as well as the demonstration, evaluation & dissemination were discussed. Several people volunteered to pilot or beta test the software. The development team are looking for funding to continue their work. The style & team image provided by the matching waistcoats with software logo was a talking point of the conference. You can phone them for more information on +44 (0) 114 271 3888

Electronic Discourse - the last 5 years. - Peter Murray

Peter presented some of the findings from his research into nurses using electronic communication. Some of the changes over the last 5 years were discussed and consideration given to where this might be leading in the next few years.

Connecting through the Internet: Now & the near future.

This was my contribution. Once I had the connections sorted out, I was able to give a live demonstration of some WWW sites, chat & other functions. I will leave it others to evaluate this contribution.

Generally this was a good focus group session, with lots of informal exchanging of information.

The Debate "This house believes that clinical information is not useful in interdisciplinary care".

This debate, chaired by Simon Old, started with a vote on the motion, which was unanimously defeated. " speakers for the motion (Dr Neill Jones & Ann Casey) & against (Dr David Markwell & Elizabeth Rahim) put their case. This was very well presented, if a little tongue in cheek at times. The debate was then opened to the floor, and a wide range of comments and discussion ensued. This touched on the nature or nursing information, the differences & similarities between this & the information needs of other members of the multidisciplinary team. Others argued that nursing information was not useful now as it could not be shared, but would be in the future. Perspectives from nurses, doctors, and a patient covered a wide range of angles especially as some people adopted viewpoints which do not accurately reflect their own position.

At the end speakers were given an opportunity to "sum up" & then another vote was taken. The majority were still against the motion, however the fact that some changed sites & others abstained could be seen as a moral victory for the proposes of the motion.

NSG AGM

The AGM was the business meeting of the NSG. Reports were given about the membership & financial situations. Discussion ensued about ways to increase membership & develop the journal Information Technology In Nursing (ITIN). The results of the elections for the new committee were announced - including me :-)

Daily Reports

During the conference, I coordinated a daily electronic report sent by email to the nurse-uk & BHIA mailing lists. I basically got people to contribute a paragraph on anything related to that day at the conference, by pestering them at dinner or in the bar. You can judge the results for yourself by clicking on the links below;

Social & Travel etc.

Travel to Liverpool wasn't too bad for me, others spent longer getting there. The Gladstone Hotel was adequate, but can we have some real ale in the bar next time please.

All the social activities, dinner & after dinner speaker were extremely enjoyable.

If you have any questions or comments please mail me; Rod@RodSpace.co.uk

Page Created: 10.11.97
Last Updated: 3.9.03