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New digital clinical document to support virtual outpatient consultations

A new digital clinical document has been launched to enable NHS Wales to maintain levels of appointment outcome reporting for outpatient appointments, whilst working remotely. The Outpatient Continuation Sheet has been enhanced in response to COVID-19 and is available for clinicians via the Welsh Clinical Portal, the digital patient record.

The Outpatient Continuation Sheet allows clinicians to record the details of consultations and appointment outcomes. Once completed, this information then forms part of a patient's medical record and is viewable across Wales in both primary and secondary care.

The digital  document offers clinicians the ability to capture notes when working remotely by conducting telephone or video conferencing, or during face to face consultations. It ensures that the appointment outcomes are captured so that patients are not lost in the follow up process and are prioritised appropriately on the waiting list.

Multiple healthcare professionals involved in a patient's care can access and update the document, meaning that all relevant information is captured in one place which is legible and fully auditable.

So far, the Outpatient Continuation Sheet is being used in Swansea Bay and Cwm Taf University Health Boards with 413 created in the first two weeks.

"I have found the electronic outpatient continuation sheet very useful over the last weeks. It has enabled me to document virtual clinic appointments quickly and securely when telephoning patients away from the hospital. I don't think I'll go back to using the paper version for clinics!" Dr Owen Pickrell, Consultant Neurologist - Swansea Bay University Health Board