Facilitator Handbook 2005 - PRIMIS

Annual Review
PRIMIS Facilitator Handbook
Annual Review
Background
Since April 2000 PRIMIS has been working, through local PCOs, to help GPs to make the best
use of their clinical computer systems, both in meeting their organisational needs and in
supporting good quality patient care as part of an ongoing programme of development.
However, as with any work programme, regular progress reviews are essential.
“The underlying objective for a project review is to improve the overall outcome. To achieve
this, the review must be forward looking, constantly seeking to identify how current lessons
can be exploited for future advantage. For a review to add real value, it must go beyond
the superficial and drill down to the underlying capabilities. By doing this it can identify
fundamental improvements that are the key to consistently improved performance in the
future.”
www.amtec.co.uk/private-sector-consulting/foundation/project_review/project_rev_overview.xhtml
Many project and change management theories extol the virtue of ongoing review to ensure
that projects remain on course, identify and address any issues as they arise, and constantly
strive towards achieving the original aims and objectives of the project. A local PRIMIS project
or scheme is no exception.
The PRIMIS approach to training and working with an information facilitator is adaptive and the
principles of the scheme review follow the broader principles of PRINCE 2 (PRojects IN
Controlled Environments) methodology, a structured method for effective project management
used extensively by UK Government organisations.
The Training
The training takes place over a half or full day and is run on an individual scheme basis,
involving the information facilitator and preferably their line manager. It is usually held at the
end of the first year of the project. Subsequent reviews may be conducted by correspondence.
The training will be introduced with a presentation and discussion on what an annual review
should include, what steps are involved and an explanation as to why it is an essential
process. The various methods of conducting an annual review are also discussed.
The aim of this training is twofold: to carry out a review of the local scheme and to equip the
information facilitator with the skills to facilitate their practices to carry out reviews.
The review itself will involve a guided discussion around key stages and events as outlined in
the box on the following page. The experiences and the reflections from the facilitator will be
documented.
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