SMS event alert system planned for care workers

iSentry have announced the release of their Digital Witness service, a web-based compliance monitoring and alert system aimed at health and social care workers.

The system has been tested by the Devon and Cornwall Autistic Community Trust (Spectrum) and is already in use there. The Digital Witness system allows workers to enter event records they happen, automatically raise necessary paperwork and alert any necessary people or authorities should events warrant.

Gwynn Evans, spokesperson for iSentry, gave an example of how the system works: "Say the careworkers have a patient who requires three people looking after them at once, and one has an accident. The carers can go on the system with a palm pilot or the computer in the house and notify his head office."

"The chain of command will be in the software. The alerts will then go out to all the relevant people to say they are one man down."

Messages and notifications can be sent via SMS and e-mail to a mobile device or a regular account. "Say maybe two people do respond… The relevant people will be made aware. As soon as they respond the others will be stood down."

As the system is web-based, it is software and hardware independent, and only a web browser is needed for access. The system is securely encrypted using 128-bit SSL, and only staff who are responsible for a case can access the incidents and events associated with it.

The whole system is designed around templates based on National Care Standards regulations and Health and Safety Legislation.

Evans added that the software had been developed while working with Spectrum. "Spectrum has been using our Digital Profile product for a long time. They tested it with scenarios… But there’s only so much testing one can do in-house. They did demo runs and they tested it to destruction."

The system will be formally launched at next month’s Clinical Information Systems and Electronic Records and eHealth 2005 Exhibition Conference in Hammersmith, London.

Spectrum operates around 23 homes across the south-west of England and employs around 300 staff.

UIG, who manufacture iSentry, have their head offices based in the US. The iSentry system is also used by many financial companies as well as healthcare organisations.