Premises and Information Technology Your Questions Answered

Health promotion is an integral part of the development of primary care and its emphasis in involving the community in local strategies and planning. This book draws together examples of best practice to show how each member of the primary health care team - together with professionals from other agencies - can work together in promoting healthier lifestyles.

Premises 1. Extending premises 2. Green-field site 3. Branch surgeries 4. Professionals– architects, surveyors, lawyers 5. Surgeries within superstores 6. Pharmacies within practices/practices within pharmacies 7. One-stop health shop 8. On-call accommodation 9. Implications for premises of the shift from secondary to primary care 10. Outreach clinics 11. Subletting to other practitioners 12. Primary Care Groups 13. Community staff 14. Nurse treatment rooms 15. Soundproof consulting rooms 16. Child health clinic 17. Car parking 18. Staff rest areas 19. Partner in charge 20. Cost rent/notional rent 21. Health centre leasing 22. Obtaining funds to build premises 23. Bank loans 24. Improvement grants 25. Private financing 26. Endowment mortgages 27. Valuations 28. Building and insurance 29. Security 30. Safeguards against violent patients 31. Fire precautions 32. Disposal of sharps 33. Health and safety issues 34. Maintenance of building 35. Caretaker/maintenance person 36. Decor/first impressions 37. Access for disabled people 38. Facilities for mothers and babies Information technology 39. Using computers effectively 40. Making best use of computers 41. Upgrading hardware 42. Reuse of upgraded computer hardware 43. PCs in consulting rooms 44. Laptops versus palmtops 45. Change to new supplier 46. Computer maintenance contracts 47. Technical support/back-up 48. IT manager 49. Training 50. Health and safety issues associated with using VDUs 51. Patient confidentiality 52. User identification and passwords 53. The Internet/Intranet 54. E-mail 55. NHSNet 56. Modems 57. Repeat prescribing 58. Prodigy– prescribing support software 59. Scanner 60. Voice-operated software 61. GP Links 62. Computerized accounts 63. Payroll 64. Appointment system 65. Electronic messaging 66. Desktop publishing 67. Use of spreadsheets 68. Word processing 69. Computer crash 70. Computer security 71. Viruses 72. Millennium time-bomb 73. Computer back-ups

Judi Linney