AHPs will soon be closely involved in contributing to a new computer programme which identifies patients at risk of repeated unnecessary hospital admissions.
The new software, launched by the Department of Health, processes data such as patient's age, the type of illness and their recent contacts with the NHS to try to improve the quality of life of people with a long-term condition.
Currently based on hospital information only, the software will be upgraded later this year to include community-based data as well, therefore increasing the overall input of AHPs. The final version should be ready to use at the start of 2006.
The software was commissioned by Essex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) on behalf of the country's 28 SHAs. It was developed by independent health organisation the King's Fund in partnership with researchers at New York University and American company Health Dialog, which specialises in chronic disease management.
