The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7360 p133
30 July 2005

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NICE to consider decision support systems

Ways of evaluating computerised decision support systems are to be tested by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in a joint pilot study with NHS Con-necting for Health (the organisation responsible for the Government’s national programme for IT).

Such systems use patient data to generate patient-specific advice or interpretation. They can include:

· Systems that promote effective practice (eg, by advising on the need for particular blood tests before surgery)
· Systems that advise on the correct drug doses for individual patients
· Systems that remind clinicians when routine screening tests are due

Carole Longson, director of the centre for health technology evaluation at NICE, said: “These types of technology are likely to become increasingly important in the future and may offer opportunities to promote effective and efficient patient care. This work will help us to be responsive to changes in the way health care could develop and be delivered in the future.”

The feasibility study will begin this month with results expected in 2006.