ABSTRACT
Electronic medical records (EMRs) allow the workload of general practice to be streamlined in several ways such as improved data analysis, ease of access to test results and correspondence, electronic prescribing and the sharing of patient records across community services to improve coordination of care. Telehealth is the use of monitoring technology in the patient's home to provide biometric data, in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes or hypertension, which can be remotely relayed to a health care professional to monitor the patient's status and intervene if necessary. The delivery of primary care is increasing in complexity, and any attempt by general practitioners (GPs) to deliver primary care in isolation is doomed to failure. The range of professionals working in general practice internationally can be quite different to that commonly found in UK practices and, in some countries, it is common for social workers, psychiatric nurses, physiotherapists, dentists and pharmacists to work alongside GPs.
