title: An evaluation of the impact of the key information summary on GPs and out-of-hours clinicians in NHS Scotland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Key information summary is one of the first national shared electronic patient records enabling GPs to share clinical information with unscheduled care providers, including out-of-hours. Implemented during 2013, over 90,000 patient records have been created. This evaluation identified the impact of key information summary on healthcare services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evidence was collected using online questionnaires and structured telephone interviews. Opinions providing a numerical estimate of value were analysed using statistical methods, while qualitative responses were synthesised using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vast majority of respondents from 441 GP practices and 33 out-of-hours clinicians show that key information summary enhances patient safety, improves clinical management, reduces hospital admissions, empowers clinicians, aids communication across services and enables decisions to be responsive to patients' wishes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients willingly consent to share data with unscheduled care clinicians. Patients benefitting include those with palliative, complex or multiple conditions, at high risk of using emergency services. Out-of-hours clinicians would welcome more key information summaries, all well-completed and including social care information. Improvements include software enhancements and wider sharing of information with all unscheduled care services.
authors: Project Director, York Health Economics Consortium, University of York, UK.
authors: Joyce
authors: J
authors: Craig
authors: GP, Hermitage Medical Practices, Edinburgh, UK; eHealth Clinical Lead, Scottish Government, UK libby.morris@nhs.net.
authors: Libby
authors: L
authors: Morris
authors: Head of National Information Systems Group, NHS National Services Scotland, UK.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Cameron
authors: Project Consultant, York Health Economics Consortium, University of York, UK.
authors: Jo
authors: J
authors: Setters
authors: Project Consultant, York Health Economics Consortium, University of York, UK.
authors: Danielle
authors: D
authors: Varley
authors: Benefits and Utilisation Lead, The Health and Social Care Information Centre, Summary Care Record Programme, UK.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Lay
authors: GP, East Linton, East Lothian, UK; eHealth Clinical lead, Scottish Government, UK.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Thompson
mesh_terms: D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003219:Confidentiality; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013222:State Medicine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: General practice; information sharing; out-of-hours medical care