It is also being used to record information about patients’ weight, smoking and alcohol intake.
This means that information about people's health needs is being systematically collected and analysed in real time so that appropriate health services can be provided.
Insight into the overall health needs of Medway’s residents is especially important to GPs as they move to become the commissioners of healthcare in Medway under the government’s reforms of the NHS.
The scheme was the brainchild of Medway GP and Chairman of Medway Commissioning Group Dr Peter Green, who said: “Audit + is helping GPs to systematically improve the health of 275,000 patients in Medway and ensure that the services they need are available".
"It has been particularly helpful in managing conditions such as irregular heartbeats, heart failure and chronic bronchitis and will soon be used to manage raised cholesterol and kidney disease. It is also useful in encouraging people to stop smoking, lose weight and drink sensibly".
"Medway has high levels of smoking and obesity when compared with the rest of the country and we need creative solutions to tackle this problem".
"GPs are at the front-line of patient care and for many people a gentle nudge in the right direction from their GP is what they need to improve their health.”
Audit+ has been shortlisted for the prestigious HSJ awards 2011. The HSJ awards have been running for 30 years and recognise innovation in health services.
The winners will be announced at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 15 November.
