Alan Gillies: Professor of Information Management

Alan and John Howard were invited to work on the EU Project "Development of National Coding Standards within the Czech DRG system CZ2005/IB/SO/03.

Their component of the project will develop competency and professional standards for clinical coding in the Czech Republic.

The project managed by NI-CO in Belfast is engaged with the Czech Government on improving the quality of the data at the heart of the Czech health system.

AG is working on performance improvement in long term care in Ontario, Canada. He is working with Diane Harris with a group of local providers to implement performance improvement models.

Drawing on earlier experience in Ontario, AG has developed a maturity model incorporating a learning needs model to identify PI actions and learning needs for the leaders of these organisations

During a visit to Cluj in Romania AG gave a lecture in the Aula Magna series at the Universitatea de "Iuliu Hatieganu". These are part of the doctoral school at Cluj. There are 4 a year, and are attended by all the PhD students of the University, plus the Rector and Vice Rectors and senior academics. These are the most prestigious lectures at the University. The talk was entitled "What is a doctorate?"
AG was accompanied on the visit by colleagues John Howard and Mark Cutter
AG received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University in 2001.

AG has been appointed to the International Editorial Board of Studies in Ethics, Law and Technology.
Watch out for a special issue early in 2009 on health information management, edited by AG.
AG has also been invited to be a section editor for the Encyclopedia of Ethics published by Elsevier, and edited by Professor Ruth Chadwick of Cardiff University.

AG launched his book about his favourite subject (talking!) today. The art of presenting is published by Radcliffe Publishing.
The book seeks to restore a proper relationship between talking and technology, and reminds the reader that the technology is there to support the talk and not the oher way around.

The new building for Cuerden Church School finally opened for children on Sept 18th 2006.
This marks the culmination of five years of planning and development. Alan is Chair of the Governors at the School.
Cuerden Church School is a joint Church of England Methodist Aided Primary School and is linked to St Saviours Church of England Church and Bamber Bridge Methodist Church
See pictures of the school here:

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has established the UK s National Health Informatics Collection.
The unique resource, which currently consists of over 1000 titles and conference papers from across the World, was officially launched at the University on 6th September 2006.
The Collection will be made available for reference use to all interested parties across the UK and beyond.

Software Quality: Theory and Management first published in 1992, has just been reprinted for the Asian market for the second time, due to "unprecedented demand" in India.
This is the second edition, first published in 1998, and in its second re-print for this market.

The foundation stone was laid today at Cuerden Church School, for the new building, due to house the school from Sept 2006.
Alan is Chair of Governors at the voluntary aided school, a partnership between the Methodist Church and the Church of England.
Find out more at http://www.cuerdenchurchschool.co.uk/

Alan is collaborating with Roy Lilley and Paul Lambden, to produce an electronic resource to accompany a forthcoming Radcliffe title on medicines management for care homes. More details soon.
Find out more at http://www.roylilley.co.uk