Dr Foster Intelligence leads call for POA flag in NHS data

Dr Foster Intelligence is leading calls from the healthcare sector for a present on admission (POA) flag to be introduced to NHS medical records.

A letter has been sent to health secretary Andrew Lansley requesting the introduction of a new way for clinicians to record whether falls, pressure sores or infections were present when the patient was admitted to hospital, rather than developing whilst in care.

This would provide a clearer and more accurate picture of the standard of health and adult social care provision, with health authorities in the US, Canada and Australia already using POA flags to beneficial effect.

Dr Foster's campaign has the support of 16 hospital trusts, as well as organisations such as the Royal College of Nursing, the Care Quality Commission and the Professional Association of Clinical Coders.

The letter said: "The NHS Information Centre is looking at introducing a POA flag which will require a re-engineering of the national information architecture … However, a system is needed in the interim that can provide this valuable information."

Last month, the healthcare information solutions provider announced the launch of TrustView, a new online performance dashboard for NHS trusts.