There is no specific NHS Digital Programmes for the implementation of dm+d. However, the Implementation and Business Change (IBC) Team at NHS Digital potentially might be able to help organisations adopt SNOMED CT and dm+d. For example, support was provided to some organisations for ECDS implementation. Email is office.ibc@nhs.net
There has been a number of SNOMED dependent programmes. The Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS) has improved the collection of information in EC departments and is seen as an enabler for Transfer of Care discharge summaries. SNOMED CT implementation in general practice commenced in April 2018. The primary care SNOMED help desk is snomedprimarycare@nhs.net. Other organisations including secondary care are meant to have adopted SNOMED CT by April 2020
Systems have to be able to send and receive data coded using the SNOMED CT terminology. In addition, there is a desire to improve data quality and consistency of recording across the NHS so it is also desirable for data entry to be based on selecting clinical terms from SNOMED CT.
NHS Digital provide some resources to support your database administrators and analysts.
To be compliant you should have an EPR. If your system is a purchased system, then SNOMED CT can only be provided by the system supplier; you will need an upgrade or if you have re-procurement due then it needs to be part of these requirements. All the large EPR solutions providers know of the requirement to be SNOMED CT compliant and should be able to advise.
Ensuring all staff have some training so that they can quickly find the terms they need, providing trainers who will shadow the clinician say in clinic so they ensure they quickly find the terms they need, providing things like reports so that if they do clinicians can quickly print out data for their professional clinical audits, getting junior doctors to utilise SNOMED CT in their clinical research so others can see the value, having champions in the organisation who illustrate benefits.
Provider organisations are expected to either:
All organisations are required to have business continuity plans in place, which should outline local plans for the delivery of discharge summaries.
As a requirement in the NHS Standard Contract, provider organisations (supplier customers) are required to implement, which will enforce supply and demand.
