Liquidlogic launch integrated adults system

Collaborative software provider Liquidlogic has launched a new web-based integrated adults system (IAS) which will allow local authorities and NHS trusts to keep one detailed record of a patient’s social care needs from the care planning process, to referral history and financial management.

The web-based system is based on Liquidlogic’s Integrated Children’s Solution, used widely by social services across England, and allows for an electronic record of a patient’s care to be maintained in one place by anyone with a role-based, controlled log in.

Liquidlogic’s adult services integration manager, Andy Clegg, told E-Health Insider Primary Care: “A number of our customers are very happy with our SAP system, but still found that integration between health and social care was still a little bit tricky. They wanted something that pretty much does everything you need it to do in one place. This is something our children’s system does very well, and so we set about designing a similar system devoted to the care of adults.

“What we have now is a new browser-based system that can be accessed by anyone authorised to do so, and can interoperate with other systems, that will allow health and social care to work together. A patient’s entire care plan and medical history can be seen from one place, and best of all staff can use it to make requests for any financial costs which may be incurred and using the same system, these can be approved by council finance chiefs.”

The system has been designed to help meet the Department of Health’s target, where by next year, all PCTs and local authorities should have established joint health and social care managed networks and /or teams to support those people with long-term conditions who have the most complex needs.

Using a log-in, carers are presented with the status of all their patients and are prompted when follow-ups are needed. It seamlessly integrates with Liquidlogic’s SAP system so that notes are updated each time a person logs in.

Staff can log onto the system to update notes and a message is left in the person’s worktray when there is an issue that requires their attention.

This includes case workers sending care plans to managers for approval, and any expenditure requests being sent direct to finance officers for approval before a case can progress.

Liquidlogic’s adult services product manager, Tracy McCaffrey, said: “The user will have the ability to create a record and then update the information for anyone associated with the patient to look at. Primarily used by council social care staff, this can help to keep the departments up to date on the care of an individual, prompting action when deemed necessary, which is imperative these days.”

Each time a patient is referred to social services for care, a record can be created for them. These can then be allocated to a specific carer, who takes charge of that case.

Using the system, the staff responsible can keep a note of the patient’s condition and wellbeing. This can be added to by other staff should the patient be seen by them, or if a family member calls for help, though the full record will be limited to certain authorised personnel only.

McCaffrey added: “The system also provides the user with a series of indexes to remind them of what criteria needs to be fulfilled to progress with the case. these are adaptable depending on local needs, but act as a prompt to ensure that local authorities are meeting their 14 day assessment targets.”

Should a patient require additional help, the system can send a referral note to the worktray of another system user or a document can be printed to send to the official involved.

If the case involves expenditure of any kind, this is sent to a budget holder’s worktray for approval before the case can progress.

Clegg told EHIPC: “This is about ensuring that everyone involved in local authorities is taking responsibility for the well-being of their patients. Using a system like this, every case is sent for approval by managers before they can progress, so authorities have no excuse for missing anything that should have arisen concern.”

The system has been developed with Slough Borough Council in Berkshire, and Liquidlogic hope to go live with the system in October.

Clegg said: “If the initial pilot in Slough proves successful, then we will look to offer the system to existing SAP users as well as local authorities looking for a good system that will help them meet the Department of Health targets. Our system meets Connecting for Health compliance guidelines and is capable of sending HL7 messages to the spine, so is undoubtedly essential for the integration of PCT’s and local authorities.”

He added the system is fully compliant with the DH/Connecting for Health Common Assessment Framework (CAF) guidelines.

CAF is a nationally standard approach to conducting an assessment of the needs of an adult patient and deciding how they should be met. It has been developed for use by practitioners in all agencies so that they can communicate better and work more effectively together.

It will support earlier intervention by providing a tool to enable practitioners in universal, as well as targeted or specialist services, to assess needs at an early stage. It aims to be potentially the main method where needs are assessed by agencies, reducing the number and scale of specific assessments.

Plans are in place for patients to be able to view their own records from the system using HealthSpace.

Pilot results for the Integrated Adults Systems are expected early next year.

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