The visual transformation of healthcare information systems: a global digital exemplar from a UK university hospital for women’s health

Objective. This essay describes the development of a wholly new form of timeline structured iconographic interface for the electronic patient record (EPR). This provides a fast and highly efficient means through which to view complex medical records from multiple data sources, with global health applications. Methods. Using a simple concept as the design framework, we have worked from first principles of agile and iterative software development to upcycle large quantities of electronic clinical data into a visually intuitive and efficient EPR format, with a wide range of practical clinical applications. The system was built within the existing Clinical Data Estate (CDE) and IT systems of a UK NHS University Hospital, by a small volunteer team at negligible cost. Results. Over ten years, we have developed the system from initial concept to a live EPR interface at the centre of our CDE for some 5,000 authorised users, to display some 2.5 million individual patient e-records in real time. We have also built a derivative exemplar data system for the “whole of life” study of chronic diseases of childhood and adulthood, using a dynamic data set of18,000 locally treated breast cancer cases within our Women’s Health service. Conclusions. Agile software development puts the true user of information at the centre of digital design. When combined with the key principles of e-data visualisation, it can produce transformative clinical systems. The early sharing of insights and solutions will help accelerate beneficial change in our understanding of individual and population health.

electronic patient record, data visualisation, timelines, Iconography