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Enabling COVID-19 research

Guest blog: Suzy Foster, CEO, EMIS Health discusses the importance of patient data to help researchers develop a deeper understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Here at EMIS Health we’ve joined forces with The Nuffield Department of Primary Care at the University of Oxford and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) to recruit as many GP practices as possible for COVID-19 research.

“We’ve asked all of the GP practices in England that use our clinical system, EMIS Web, to contribute patient data to help researchers develop a deeper understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic in general practice.

“The data – shared under strict governance guidelines – will enable researchers to understand the spread of COVID-19, including tracking when it peaks and helping to inform government strategy around measures such as social distancing and lockdown. Some practices are also being asked to take part in rapid clinical trials of selected medicines to reduce the duration and severity of the virus. The first trial will need up to 3,000 patients. As many practices as possible are needed to support the work.

“The programme will form a key part of the UK approach to clinical trials of selected medicines to reduce the duration and severity of the virus, and a possible vaccine.

“Data is a powerful weapon in the fight against coronavirus. Daily insight from frontline GP practices will enable vitally important research into treatments and a vaccination.

“A growing list of 600 practices using EMIS Web have signed up so far.

“We are very grateful to the many EMIS Health practices who have signed up to support this important national initiative.”

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Original article link: https://www.techuk.org/insights/news/item/17692-enabling-covid-19-research

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