Theme
5II Online learning 2
INSTITUTION
North West Deanery
University Hospitals South Manchester
Cloud based computing is increasingly utilized by both businesses and individuals and is now a well established data storage option for personal computing. Its use in healthcare IT networks is limited by concerns regarding confidentiality of patient data. However, with increasing availability of E-Learning and M-learning to trainees as well as the mobility of trainees between different trust’s Cloud storage can be an important tool in education and training.
An online application system was developed as part of the trust’s change Champions initiative to allow access to commonly used cloud storage/file sharing sites for approved reasons. The system functioned as follows: An attempt to access the site redirects users to the standard blockage message with a new addendum providing a hyperlink to the online application form. This form requests details of the user, the site they wish to use and a specific description of the data to be uploaded. The form includes user agreements to ensure the user takes responsibility that no identifiable data is uploaded. Following submission the form is reviewed and the users network account is approved for use of the site. The agreement ensures that the use of the system is in line with the Data Protection Act and Caldicott guidelines.
Following the introduction of this system in November 2013 to January 2014 there have been 40 applications to use Cloud storage websites. The majority were to Dropbox, Skydrive and GoogleDrive but there were also applications to Mendeley and Evernote. Of these applications 30 were from clinical and 10 were from non clinical staff.
Approved reasons related to Education purposes in 18, Rota management in 10 and Research in 8. Examples of its use include its use in National multi-site projects by the Intensive care department, dissemination and access to teaching resources by both Juniors and consultants and simplified workflow between Manchester University and UHSM for those working between the clinical and academic arenas. Remote access to rotas to allow improved staff cover has also been utilized.
There have been no security issues with the new system.
The introduction of this approval-based system allows employees to disseminate teaching resources easily. This has also aided collaboration between organizations including strong links with Manchester university. The system has also been taken up to ensure accurate trainee rota management. There has been uptake amongst both clinical and non clinical staff.
We feel that selectively approving access to these services empowers staff involved in teaching and training to create personal solutions in a modern collaborative learning environment.
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