UK Council for Health Informatics Professions

Why is professionalism important for health

informatics staff and how do we assure it?

Helen Sampson –Clinical Informatician

Past Chair, Nursing Specialist Group BCS Health Informatics

Finance Director UKCHIPHealth Informatics escaping the server room and reaching the boardroom 30th Sept 2008

‘This is the time for health informatics to come out of the back office’ and for ‘greater leadership from the top of the office for the health informatics profession’ (Matthew Swindells, HC2008)

We must 'protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by ensuring proper standards in practice' (Professor Sir Graham Catto, President- General Medical Council,

BCSPHCSG Conference, June 2008).

Why Professionalism

To improve the quality of IT

enabled change

To improve the reputation of IT

To improve self esteem

What is Professionalism? A profession

– serves society– provides leadership to society

Social responsibility prevails over insularity in the behaviour of professionals

Professionals practise with independence Professionals practice for the client over

competition and employer Institutional functions for representation and

scrutiny are separated

What is the future for UKCHIP? It is being used as the exemplar for ProfIT It may eventually become part of the overall

IT professionalism movement Working towards accreditation under

UKAS as a certifying body It will continue in its aims of driving up

quality, giving registrants greater self esteem and improving patient safety

Looking to certify HI services and Courses

What is a Professional Body?Lord Benson 1992

Controlled by governing body which directs behaviour Sets entry standards and professional competence Sets ethical rules and professional standards Designed for benefit of public & not members Work often reserved by statute Ensures fair and open competition Members must be independent in thought and outlook Leadership in a field of learning

Why is it not just a BCS issue

Although it is the professional society it has been seen as just concerned about the technical IT

When the Health Forum and the NHS started looking at professionalism the BCS was not ready UKCHIP developed as an independent body

Professionalism in IT Prof IT defined what is needed to develop

professionalism for all of the IT/IM profession Involved BCS, IEE, Intellect, eGov, eSkills

(Sector Skills Council, . All the major employers Looking at

– Professional Behaviour

– Competency Framework -SFIA

– Qualifications - CITP

– Career pathways

– Professional Registration

What is Health Informatics? ‘knowledge, skills and tools that enable

information to be collected, managed, used and shared to support delivery of healthcare and to promote health [and wellbeing]’

Health Informaticians

ICT staff Health Records & Coding Staff Information Management Knowledge Management Senior HI Managers / Directors of Services Clinical Informatics Education, Training & Development Research

Professionalism – the Context

Increasing impact of HI on patient care

Significant NHS investment in HI

Skills and leadership deficit

Recruitment/retention problems

The Problem for HI Staff

The need for a career pathway The need for adequate recognition

– Professional Credibility– Appropriate Remuneration– Correct Workplace Setting

The need for a professional “home” Current organisations did not meet these

needs

Bad Health Informatics Damages Patients Patients must have died due to the London

Ambulance system failure. (Parliamentary report)

Abnormal cervical smears not acted on until too late

Incorrect radiotherapy doses Downs Syndrome risks inaccurately

reported

What is Needed? Register of HI Professionals

Professional standards

– Code of Conduct

– Education, training and experience

– Continuing professional development

Career structure for HI professionals

– Recognition by employers Health care lags a decade behind aviation on

safeguarding consumers lives. IOM reports “To err is human” 2000

UKCHIP’s formal Aim

Its aim is: “to be the regulatory body for all

branches of health informatics in the United Kingdom”

Sectors

NHS

Private Health

Industry / Commercial

Higher / Further Education

Elements of the Scheme

Constituencies

– broad definition of HI

Sectors

– all those involved in HI

Levels of Registration

– different levels of experience and responsibility

Registration Levels

Level 1– limited experience/responsibility

Level 2– career grade– significant qualifications/experience

Level 3– leadership grade– advanced qualifications/experience

Registration Requirements

Code of conduct

Professional standards– qualifications

– employment profile

– health experience

– informatics experience

Points scheme– trade-off (with strict minima)

Continuing Professional Development A professional has to keep up to date A professional body needs to monitor this Each branch of the profession has different

needs UKCHIP has its own CPD scheme but if

there is a CPD scheme from another body which fits the requirements UKCHIP will recognise that

What Next?

Acceptance by employers

Detailed Core Competencies

Accreditation of training schemes and

conferences

– education, supervised experience, mentoring etc

Career Pathway

– normal entry route

Statutory registration?

Why Register?

As an individual

– Demonstrate commitment to Code of Conduct

– Sign up to professional standards

– Recognise responsibility to the public

– Self esteem

In the interests of the profession

– Establish HI as a recognised profession

– Support UKCHIP

If you are not registered go toIf you are not registered go to

www.ukchip.orgwww.ukchip.org

UKCHIPUKCHIP ((UK UK CCouncil ofouncil of H Healthealth I Informaticsnformatics P Professions)rofessions)

Any Questions