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Top Incapacity related benefits topic #4633

Subject: "Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols" First topic | Last topic
Quinn
                              

Welfare Rights Officer, Northumberland care Trust
Member since
22nd Jan 2004

Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols
Wed 25-Nov-09 12:47 PM

The ESA Handbook refers the disability analyst to these protocols. Apparently they contain key points to assist them with aetioly, diagnosis, prognosis etc.
If anyone has anyone ever seen any of these protocols or tried to obtain them from DWP can you let me know.
Cheers

  

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Replies to this topic
RE: Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols, darlocab, 25th Nov 2009, #1
RE: Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols, Quinn, 25th Nov 2009, #2
      RE: Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols, Casework team, 30th Nov 2009, #3
           RE: Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols, Quinn, 02nd Dec 2009, #4

darlocab
                              

welfare benefits, darlington citizens advice bureau
Member since
03rd Mar 2009

RE: Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols
Wed 25-Nov-09 03:42 PM

As I understand it - the LiMA programme was developed using "evidence based protocols" and "up to date knowledge of the most frequently seen medical conditions for ICB claiments". There is also something stating by selected specialists and professors (I think) - The LiMA programme has been clasified as "Comercialy sensative".

so I assume that these "evidence based protocols" will be the same - whatever they are

  

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Quinn
                              

Welfare Rights Officer, Northumberland care Trust
Member since
22nd Jan 2004

RE: Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols
Wed 25-Nov-09 04:04 PM

I have given Atos an opportunity to answer, but am not holding my breath.

  

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Casework team
                              

Legal Casework Officer, RNID London
Member since
17th Aug 2006

RE: Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols
Mon 30-Nov-09 02:39 PM

We have frequently requested information from ATOS about Lima and its development, below is a response to a question posed in 2004:

"I have been involved with the Evidence Based Medicine project for almost 4 years now. Our aim has been to provide our Medical Advisers with a system that allows them to write their IB reports electronically, instead of by hand, whilst at the same time encouraging best medical practice".

"We have tried to achieve this by researching the medical evidence in
relation to a significant number of common disabling conditions and using the resulting information to help us design assessment techniques that allow doctors to collect and record the most relevant information. We have also collated all the information about these disabling conditions into collections of 'protocols' which we use as training material. In this way we try to ensure that all our advisers are aware of some of the more recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. To date, we have three collections of protocols covering muscular and skeletal problems, heart and lung problems and mental health problems."

A further response later that year stated:

"Firstly, because LiMA is, in one sense, just a glorified word­processor. It is still possible to write a report using whatever words the doctor chooses to use.

Secondly, even without protocols, we have designed LiMA to assist doctors in a number of ways.
­ The diagnosis list includes a hearing problem category containing a number of common auditory problems.
­ Selecting one of these diagnoses triggers LiMA to prompt the doctor to
record appropriate information about the condition under a number of
sub­headings, including symptoms, hospital referral, investigations,
treatment, use of aids and registration".

I'm sure you will all find this of interest, but i hasten to add, that we never really achieved answers to many of the questions we posed during its development and introduction.


  

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Quinn
                              

Welfare Rights Officer, Northumberland care Trust
Member since
22nd Jan 2004

RE: Atos Health Care Evidence Based Protocols
Wed 02-Dec-09 09:02 AM

Cheers. I’ve lodged a Freedom of Information request from Medical Services Contract Management Team. They have promised to reply by December 28th.
I will post their response.

  

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