CSC selects InterSystems for trust integration

Computer Sciences Corporation is to use InterSystems Ensemble for the integration of all new applications it provides to existing trust systems.

CSC, the local service provider for the North East and Midlands regions in England’s NHS National Programme for IT, has selected Ensemble as the standard trust integration engine (TIE).

The Ensemble TIE will include pre-built and pre-tested interfaces for key trust-based applications.

As a result of the deal, the Ensemble integration platform will be used for integrating new solutions, such as Lorenzo, with existing applications provided by CSC.

The TIE will be available to all trusts in NME under the CSC deal. Trusts have the option to expand their use of Ensemble beyond the TIE to address other trust integration requirements.

“Proven, comprehensive and extensible integration is vital to the success of the NPfIT programme,” said Mike Dyer, CSC’s NHS chief technology officer. “Our new TIE initiative directly addresses the need to achieve a single view of a patient record and keep disparate systems synchronised.”

Ensemble will be the standard integration platform that with the NHS version of Lorenzo. Earlier plans for Lorenzo had included an iSoft-developed, built-in integration engine; a development on which CSC called time.

NHS Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the first strategic health authorities to use Ensemble under the contract. Phil Molyneux, CIO at the SHA said: “This agreement between CSC and InterSystems is part of the LSP contract and is great news for our trusts.

"It fits with our strategy to take advantage of new strategic solutions from CSC, whilst maximising the benefit that we can get from existing software products that are highly valued by the local trusts.”

Trust and SHA representatives from the NME are collaborating through the NHS Connecting for Health Trust Integration Forum to agree on which of their existing applications require Ensemble TIE interfaces. CSC and InterSystems are working with the vendors of those applications to configure and test interfaces to the CSC-hosted applications.

InterSystems Ensemble had been successfully implemented at a number of NHS sites including Barts and The London NHS Trust, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Plymouth ICT Shared Services, Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, and East & North Herts NHS Trust.

“InterSystems have always recognised the importance of the Trusts’ existing applications and of applying integration technology to deliver a more ‘connected’ healthcare system,” said Graham Frost, managing director UK, InterSystems.

“We are delighted that all trusts in the NME region now have the opportunity to implement Ensemble and take a positive step towards combining the best of new and existing systems.”

InterSystems says it has provided over 400 implementations of Ensemble in healthcare organisation globally. These connected healthcare initiatives have made it possible to create and integrate electronic health records, delivering improved care while costs are significantly reduced.

In February 2008, InterSystems Ensemble was ranked as Number One interface engine in the survey of healthcare providers conducted annually by KLAS, a leader in healthcare technology research.