Sexual Health Information Made Simple with Cellma

In 2023, according to NHS UK, England experienced over 401,800 new sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses, a stomach-churning 4.7% rise per annum. Gonorrhoea and syphilis rates jumped 7.5% and 9.4%, respectively. With 4.61 million sexual health consultations conducted in the same year, a 44.3% rise from 2019, never has there been such a need for efficient sexual health information management. 

The NHS remains the UK’s front runner in sexual health care, with confidential services accessible at primary care, community clinics, and specialist genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics. But it is in the trade-off between sexual health information sensitivity, disseminated systems, and rising levels of service need, all subject to escalating financial and workforce constraint, that the challenge lies. 

This is where Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software such as Cellma is changing the game, allowing secure, integrated, and patient-centred sexual health information software that maintains confidentiality, enhances patient empowerment, and enhances NHS efficiency. 

NHS Standards and Integrations Met by Cellma

Cellma adheres to NHS dataset and integration standards in full, and fulfils both clinical and administrative specifications for the processing and storage of sexual health data. 

NHS Data Sets and Standards:

• GUMCAD (Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset): Holds STI treatment and diagnosis activity from sexual health clinics. 

• SRHAD (Sexual and Reproductive Health Activity Dataset): Reports anonymised, patient-level data on contraceptive services and STI testing. 

• Sexual Orientation Monitoring Information Standard: Offers stable recording of sexual orientation to track health inequalities and risks. 

• FHIR APIs & SNOMED CT for interoperability of structured data. 
   

NHS System Integrations: 

• Summary Care Record (SCR): Enables safe access to summaries of patients within NHS care environments. 

• Patient Demographic Service (PDS): Enables correct identification of patients and validation of data. 

• Electronic Prescription Service (EPS): Enables safe, traceable, and paperless prescribing of drugs. 
   

Why Sexual Health Information Management Matters 
Managing sexual health information is a clinical priority, not only due to the risks of infectious disease spread but also because of the psychosocial implications attached to patient confidentiality and stigma. 

Sensitivity of Sexual Health Data- 
Diagnosis of STIs, HIV status, gender identity, sex identity and reproductive history are all highly sensitive. A single confidentiality breach can have far-reaching consequences for a patient’s mental well-being, relationships, and even employment. 

Challenges faced by the sexual health departments: 

 While dedicated to high-quality care, with rising cases of STI and accessibility issues for disabled individuals the sexual health departments face:

• Unconnected digital systems between trusts 

• Paper-based documentation processes 

• Test reporting and partner notification delays 

• Growing demand for low-key, walk-in or online services 
   

Role of EMR Platform

EMR platform like Cellma brings scattered workflows together to a centralised, secure system for accurate sexual health information, which reduces administrative hold-ups considerably without compromising strict patient confidentiality. 

Clinical Functionalities of Cellma for Handling Sexual Health Information

Modules of Cellma are specifically intended to meet the fast, high-sensitivity sexual health clinic needs, from initial contact to follow-up. 

Patient Appointment and Scheduling (PAS)

Cellma’s PAS module provides clinics efficient patient appointment, walk-in, and triage operations management. It provides flexible scheduling with repeat visits for high-risk groups. Cellma combines patient demographic data and personalised alerts to provide efficient administrative support. This maximises patient flow and minimises waiting times. 

Electronic Patient Record (EPR)

EPR presents one perspective of an individual’s full sexual health care journey, from STI history, contraception, partner notification information, and care plans. Clinicians are able to enter assessments, diagnoses, and treatment in real-time, and meet NHS datasets like GUMCAD and SRHAD. Modularity enables clinicians to view important clinical information at a glance. Confidentiality flags hide sensitive information from unauthorised viewing. This results in safer, more tailored care. 

Lab Integration

Cellma directly interfaces with pathology laboratories to facilitate automatic posting of results and ordering of tests for conditions such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, and syphilis. Positive case or follow-up alert and real-time posting to the patient record is guaranteed. Turnaround time, risk of lost results, and manual entry are minimised through the interface. Automatic notification to clinicians provides timely treatment and tracing of partners. Batch testing and audit trails are provided. 

Reporting Module

Cellma’s robust reporting facility enables clinical and operational teams to track service delivery, infection patterns, and demographics. Reports can be tailored by age range, gender, ethnicity, type of infection, or geography. The MDT support facilitates real-time dashboards to assist the monitoring of outbreaks and resource deployment. This is crucial in trend identification, comprehending what the patient needs are, and enhancing service delivery based on evidence-based decisions. 

Patient Portal

Patients are able to view test outcomes, book appointments, receive educational materials, and use partner notification anonymously via the patient portal. It is desktop and mobile-enabled, making it easily accessible at all times. It promotes self-management by enabling tracking of their care pathway. Reminders for new results and messages are sent to patients. It is a secure, user-friendly, and stress-reducing interface aimed at engaging the end user. 

Referral Portal

It supports rapid and discreet referrals between clinics, NHS Trusts, and community providers. Referring a patient for fertility treatment, HIV support, or gender health clinics, the portal enables continuity of care with minimal delay. Referrals involve electronic forms, clinical data, and supporting documentation, securely sent. Patients may be able to view an indication of referral status through the portal. It offers timely access to extended support networks with assurance of data integrity. 

Benefits of EMR Platform- Cellma for Sexual Health Information Management 

For Patients:

• Less stigma through virtual booking and confidential communications 

• More rapid diagnosis and treatment, particularly for symptomatic STIs 

• Control of information with 24/7 access to results and medical history 
   

For Healthcare Professionals:

• Administrative burden reduction through digital notes and automated triage 

• Diagnostic and reporting accuracy improvement 

• Improved communication between departments and partner organisations 
   

For the NHS: 

• Optimised resource use, especially at times of highest demand 

• Decreased duplication and improved audit trails 

• Improved public health surveillance by means of real-time reporting.

Cellma’s AI Integrations 

Cellma, the best EHR software, embeds AI as a means to enhance sexual health information management and increase the quality of care. There are certain superb capabilities, including NLP capabilities and AI-driven alertness on drug interactions, which provide Cellma a significant advantage.

• Natural Language Processing: NLP facilitates healthcare professionals to process unstructured text-based data, like patient histories and clinical records. NLP brings out the key information simultaneously for instant decision-making and diagnosis. NLP also assists in identifying trends and key insights that assist in recognising early warning signs and enhancing the efficiency of handling more complex cases.

• AI-driven drug interaction prompts: Cellma, offers AI-enabled interaction alerts with cross-matched patient histories within an up-to-date database and automatically marks possible drug conflicts. Therefore, it reduces opportunities for the occurrence of adverse drug events and improves patient safety through more individually focused treatment.

All these capabilities of AI will make the delivery of healthcare more efficient and precise, along with better sexual health information management and enhanced patient safety. 

Maintaining Data Privacy with Cellma

Healthcare security is of the utmost importance, and Cellma, the leading EHR software features cutting-edge security features that protect patient data. Cellma enables GDPR readiness with data access security and data protection features. Role-based access, multi-factor authentications, and encryption mechanisms safeguard sensitive health information but are made accessible to authorised personnel. 

With rising STI rates and heightened demand for treatment leading to more pressure on sexual health services, the case for advanced sexual health information systems has never been stronger. EMR platforms like Cellma are not just digital tools—they are clinical enablers, equipping NHS staff to deliver faster, safer, and more confidential care. 

Now is the time for NHS stakeholders to invest in next-generation EMR systems. Let’s prioritise digital infrastructure that respects privacy, empowers patients, and supports sexual health services to meet tomorrow’s challenges.