Information is a vital asset, both in terms of the delivery of care to individual patients and the efficient management of services and resources. It plays a key part in clinical governance, service planning and performance management, but most importantly patient safety.
An information asset is a body of information (manual or electronic and defined and managed as a single unit so it can be understood, shared, protected and exploited efficiently), operating systems, infrastructure, business applications, off-the-shelf products, services, and user-developed applications. Information assets have recognisable and manageable value, risk, content and lifecycles. All assets containing confidential/sensitive information relating to patients, staff and/or other third parties will be listed in the Trust’s Information Asset Register (IAR).
These assets will be managed by Information Asset Owners (IAO) and Administrators (IAA). Their roles are outlined in the IAO and IAA Roles document.