Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI) has tapped Orion Health Limited to provide a clinical portal-based electronic care record (ECR).
Covering a population of more than 1.8 million people, the ECR will facilitate the sharing of patient data taken from multiple existing information systems across acute, community, primary health and social care, officials say. The contract follows a successful Proof of Concept pilot of the ECR in Ulster Hospitals Dundonald, the Belfast City Hospital and two general practices in 2009 and 2010.
“The Electronic Care Record will improve the quality and safety of patient care as the system makes all of the relevant existing information available to doctors, nurses and other staff at the point of care,” said Carolyn Harper, MD, HSCNI project sponsor.
The Orion Health Clinical Portal will provide streamlined, secure, Web-based access to patient data from a single browser view, according to officials. The ECR will include vital patient information, including latest lab results, medications and clinical correspondence. Audit tools and patient privacy controls have been built into the ECR for greater security.
“The ECR will play a key role in delivering a patient centered service ensuring that the right information is available to health professionals where and when it is needed,” said Roy Harper, MD, consultant endocrinologist, Ulster Hospital.
As part of a seven-year contract the ECR will be deployed in 18 acute and community hospitals, all GP practices and community, mental health and social care facilities across the five regional trusts in Northern Ireland. Planned implementation will start in late 2012 with completion of the core elements anticipated early summer 2013.
“I am confident that the electronic care record system will assist in developing a sustainable healthcare system that delivers now and will continue to deliver in the future for the good of everyone in Northern Ireland,” said Health Minister Edwin Poots.
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