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 UKCHIP Health Informatics escaping the server room and reaching the boardroom 30 th 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 to UKCHIP (UK Council of Health Informatics Professions) Any Questions