Norway – Electronic information services – Norwegian Medical Handbook

Ålesund municipality intends to enter into a contract with Norsk Elektronisk Legehåndbok (NEL) for access to electronic encyclopedias and decision support for the municipality ́s general practitioners. NEL is a central work tool in Norwegian general practice and is used daily as reference books, method books and decision support for diagnostics, review, treatment and patient information. The solution is specially developed and adapted to Norwegian conditions, Norwegian guidelines and the work flow in general medicine. The system contains comprehensive professional content with procedures, clinical tools, illustrations, patient guides and other decision support material together in one system. NEL gives health personnel quick access to quality assured information in consultation situations where medical decisions must often be made within limited time limits. The contracting authority also uses other public and professional knowledge sources such as guidelines, guidelines and reference works. These resources are assessed as important supplements, but they do not offer the same combined functionality, the same adaptation to Norwegian general medicine or the same integration of clinical tools, procedures and patient information as NEL. The contracting authority has assessed the market and is not aware of other available systems that together offer the same functionality, content and adaptation to Norwegian general medical practices as NEL. Although there are other sources of knowledge and professional references, these only cover parts of the need and cannot replace NEL as a comprehensive work tool for diagnostics, review, treatment and patient information in general practice. NEL is specifically developed for Norwegian doctors and Norwegian health services and the content is structured for use in clinical consultations where health personnel must find quality assured information quickly and efficiently. The contracting authority therefore estimates that NEL is the only supplier who can fulfil the need for a combined, established and practice adapted entry and decision support tool for the municipality's general practitioners.