Improve how you transfer electronic patient records (EPR) using GP2GP in Scotland.

The GP2GP transfer process allows electronic patient records (EPR) to move between GP practices securely. In Scotland, there's a new update to GP2GP that now allows the transfer of clinical coded information, as well as scanned information in the patient's record, to move quickly and securely between GP practices; this includes both Homogenous (Vision to Vision) and Heterogeneous (Vision to EMIS and vice versa) transfers. 

GP2GP allows clinicians to make more informed decisions for new patients. GP practices can have access to electronic patient records quicker than waiting for patient's paper medical records to arrive.

GP2GP is a faster, better and safer way to manage patients by improving the continuity of care, especially for long-term conditions. GP2GP saves printing patients records, or re-keying information to omit common mistakes.

Since 2013, 99.9% of GP practices in Scotland have been using Docman to transfer the patient's scanned information, such as documents from hospital clinics and scanned images using 'Docman Transfer".

Improve how you transfer patient records using GP2GP in Scotland

GP practices in Scotland can now send out a full patient record electronically using GP2GP. You can quickly and easily transfer the coded and scanned elements of the patient’s record all in one go.

The benefits of this will include:

• Save clinical time - make better decisions with all the information you need, such as lab results and specialist letters. Plus fewer requests for unnecessary duplicate lab tests.

• Improved safety - fewer transcribing errors and omissions, reducing the need to key in information from paper records.

• Safer prescribing - flagged allergies and adverse reactions so that you can quickly review new patients.

• Improved data quality - full patient's electronic health record is available for the patient's first appointment.

• Better continuity of care - past medical history is available, including medication, allergies, adverse reactions, immunisations and vaccinations.

• Save valuable practice staff time - attachments received electronically, omit the need to re-scan items. QOF information populated immediately with a patient's integrated electronic health record.

How to get ready for the new update.

The following learning resources will help you get started with the new process:

• Quick reference guides - click here to download the comprehensive quick reference guides which cover all you need to know about using GP2GP in your practice.

• eLearning - the following accredited GP2GP eLearning course, in the Vision Learning Zone, tells you everything you need to know. The course covers, 'Registering Patients', 'Managing incoming records', 'Degraded data', 'Processing allergies and therapy' 'Processing other data' and 'De-registering patients'. 

• Awareness Sessions - learn about how to prepare for the new update to GP2GP in an awareness session. These are half day sessions organised by your health board.

• Software update - you need to be using Docman version 75500 and have Patch 41 installed in advance of the GP2GP switch on, your local health board will let you know if this needs to be upgraded. Please contact your health board if you need advice. Vision customers will also need to have DLM640.89 or DLM650. 

Vision Learning Zone

Click here to access the GP2GP Scotland course catalogue, via the Vision Learning Zone. If you're not registered for the learning zone, click here to register. 

References: GP2GP - The way forward - SCIMP, October 2013