Evaluation of electronic medical records in homecare: A pilot-project on communication over organizational boarders in Örkelljunga

The group of people receiving formal home care services includes all ages, but most of the people receiving care are frail older people. Irrespective of public or private health care systems, many care givers can be involved, which means that many people need to communicate and have access to the same information. High quality of care presupposes good communication and collaboration between patients and the formal and informal caregivers. The Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, has been asked to evaluate a pilot project that aims to meet this need. The overarching aim of the pilot project is to develop a shared electronic medical record in homecare for the local authority and the region. The aim is also to increase the quality of collaboration between different caregivers and to increase the patients’ participation.

The electronic medical record aims to be used in conjunction with existing electronic records in the municipality and the region. In this pilot project the electronic medical record will be developed, tested and implemented in Örkelljunga, but if it proves to be useful, the electronic medical record should be able to be implemented in other municipalities and regions as well.

The pilot-version of the record will be implemented in June 2013. In autumn 2013, the evaluation will be reported to the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.