Almost 20 years since Israel's health system embarked on the National Medical Registry to develop a digital medical records for every citizen, which could be viewed by any healthcare organization or hospital, the project is finally getting underway in a more limited form.
Ministry of Health director general Dr. Ronny Gamzo yesterday issued a circular requiring hospitals to install computers systems that will gradually handle the digital registry. On the basis of the steering committee's recommendations, some of Gamzo's criteria will come into effect by the end of 2013, and others by the end of 2015. Some requirements will remain only Ministry of Health recommendations. The steering committee comprised representatives of hospitals and the healthcare funds.
The digital medical records will enable hospitals to know the medical history of patients by inputting their name and ID number. The registry will provide critical data, such as sensitivity to drugs, general illnesses, prior surgical procedures, and X-rays.
The official decision to embark on the National Medical Registry was taken in 2004, but the project faced a range of objections.
Features of the National Medical Registry include:
- Every Israeli will have a digital information capsule available at hospitals and healthcare funds.
- Release forms will be sent electronically to the doctor and patient.
- Healthcare organizations will send procedure indemnity forms directly to hospitals.
- Some information shared by hospitals and healthcare funds will be encrypted or encoded.
- Automatic alerts about sensitivity or allergies to medication.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 9, 2011
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011