September 2010

 

At last, some major progress with the EEPD.

 

I remain convinced of my original premise that

 

“On both technical and financial grounds, adequately integrating large flow-patterned databases is virtually impossible. For this simple reason, such complex Electronic Patient Records (EPRs),  will only attain their true potential to improve the quality of maternity care and to reduce the risk of human errors, without unsustainable data re-entry overload;  when, in each speciality and sub-speciality, - following intense, open, web-based discussions - their detailed, logically and chronologically arranged, flow-patterned core questions (and all allowable answer options), - are, by stages,  taking account of as many interested parties as possible, individual question by individual question, internationally standardised. 

 

Such specifications will only become universally standardised if they are cost-free to all potential users.”

 

The present situation is rather like, but a thousand times worse than, the classification of diseases before ICD; or of species before Linnaeus.  Only this time simply defining thousands of codes is not the answer, instead a flow patterned, chronologically arranged standard core set of questions and all allowable answer options will be eventually be seen to be essential.

 

I’ve nearly given up so many times, but the technology I have needed for so many years now at last exists.  Thank you for encouraging me to keep going by visiting the site.  Do have a look again soon.

 

 

Rupert Fawdry