BMJ  2006;333:147 (15 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7559.147

Letter

To opt in or opt out of electronic patient records?

Poor training of locums in using hospital computer systems poses risk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Norheim highlights the expansion of computerised health care.¹ Having undertaken several locum doctor appointments while undertaking a higher degree, we have noticed some serious failings in training for locum doctors in using hospital computer systems. Frequently doctors share passwords for electronic patient records and hospital computer systems as it is difficult and often time consuming to attain their own passwords, especially when very short term locums are being undertaken. This should be avoided at all costs as it compromises data security.

Locum doctors should ensure that they are given basic training in using these systems as part of their induction at a new hospital, as well as individual passwords. This may be achieved through the information technology department or the clinical risk manager for out of hours duties. If necessary, locums should turn up before the start of their shift for such training. In the future, doctors could . . . [Full text of this article]

amirismail@doctors.net.uk, Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics (SORA), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 ONN

Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics (SORA), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 ONN

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