We recognise that digital recording of clinical encounters could greatly enhance the quality of patient care through improvements in clinician performance.
Patients now have the motivation, the means and also the right to make & keep recordings of THEIR clinical encounters: they will take the opportunity whether we offer it or not. However, many of the advantages will only come if we, as clinicians, have access to copies of those recordings. The ability to listen to one's own words, and then reflect upon them individually or with colleagues is an important way of using this evolution in ‘record keeping’ to positively impact upon our practice.
Clinicians always require consent to record any patient encounters and any use or storage of that data is then subject to strict confidentiality and data protection laws. Inviting patients to post recorded consultations on dedicated 'public' websites would allow access, analysis & reflection in an open & unrestricted way.
As we move through the 21st century the health service cannot avoid advances in technology. Although there may also be negative consequences to digital consultation recording, we should regard this as an opportunity and exploit it to improve patient care - just as we have done with every technological advance in the past.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
20 March 2014
Jennifer Burgess
CT2 Anaesthesia
Mark Davies
Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
Rapid Response:
Re: “Patientgate”—digital recordings change everything
We recognise that digital recording of clinical encounters could greatly enhance the quality of patient care through improvements in clinician performance.
Patients now have the motivation, the means and also the right to make & keep recordings of THEIR clinical encounters: they will take the opportunity whether we offer it or not. However, many of the advantages will only come if we, as clinicians, have access to copies of those recordings. The ability to listen to one's own words, and then reflect upon them individually or with colleagues is an important way of using this evolution in ‘record keeping’ to positively impact upon our practice.
Clinicians always require consent to record any patient encounters and any use or storage of that data is then subject to strict confidentiality and data protection laws. Inviting patients to post recorded consultations on dedicated 'public' websites would allow access, analysis & reflection in an open & unrestricted way.
As we move through the 21st century the health service cannot avoid advances in technology. Although there may also be negative consequences to digital consultation recording, we should regard this as an opportunity and exploit it to improve patient care - just as we have done with every technological advance in the past.
Competing interests: No competing interests