Informatics Group
The Standing Group functions as
an advisory group to the College on all matters relating to
information management and technology in general practice.
Members of this group also represent the College on the GPC / RCGP
Joint GP IT Committee and in that capacity collaborate
with GPC colleagues and the clinical system National User
Groups.
Purpose
The RCGP Informatics Group
provides informed and authoritative advice and support to the
College, the College Council and Council Executive Committee (CEC)
within its domain of expertise. We may similarly offer advice and
support on behalf of the RCGP to other professional and NHS bodies
within the context of professional principles and ethics. Our
main purposes are:
- To help the RCGP to develop a clear strategic vision in the
field of information management in health care and its
application to support clinical practice, decision-making and
research.
- To help the RCGP to implement appropriate changes to its
policies
Terms of reference
We will achieve our aims in the
following ways:
- Members of
the Informatics Group represent the RCGP in various
NHS informatics projects and committees including the Joint GP
Information Technology Committee (JGPITC) of the RCGP and GPC and
the National Advisory
Group (NAG)
- Undertaking informatics research,
projects and reports
- Informal discussions with other groups
including the Department of Health, relevant national and regional
initiatives, suppliers of systems to primary care and other
relevant groups
- Formal discussions with other groups
including the Department of Health, relevant national and regional
initiatives, suppliers of systems to primary care and other
relevant groups as agreed with CEC.
As well as working jointly with GPC
colleagues, the Informatics Group has a separate agenda oriented
much more towards the needs of College members and its role as a
resource for College Council.
Recently, with the major changes in the nature
of NHS information recording, the Group has served a vital function
in preparing papers for Council of the College which make clear the
implications of the changes for general practice and provide
resources to enable the College to enter fully into the debate over
these.
In addition to the major work involved with
the development of the NHS information spine, the Group has set
itself the following programme:
- The development of medical informatics
curriculum standards – undergraduate and postgraduate.
- Professional input into the technical underpinning of medical
confidentiality in electronic record systems
- Professional input into the coded representation of clinical
concepts on electronic record systems
- Professional input into the coded representation of
prescribable products on electronic record systems
- Professional input into good practice standards for the use of
electronic patient records
- Professional input into network standards for communication
between electronic patient record systems
- Professional input into the integrity and safety of the
representation of clinical information in clinical messaging
standards