EHI’s industry round up 29.07.2010

This month’s industry round up has a focus on the web, with news of an intranet and extranet upgrade for NHS North East, a new training platform for staff dealing with crucially ill patients on general wards, an upgrade to the Spotting the Sick Child resource, and some interactive health services launched by the private sector. Plus, there are items about contract wins and product launches.

Nottingham picks Ascribe for web pharmacy

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has signed a new deal with Ascribe to install its web based pharmacy system at its Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital sites. The Ascribe Web Pharmacy system will replace two older systems, Ascribe’s V.8 Pharmacy system at Queen’s Medical Centre, and a JAC system at City Hospital. The trust has also purchased Ascribe’s interfaces to its existing patient administration system, pharmacy dispensing robot, and finance system.

Salisbury gets ViewPoint for ultrasound

Salisbury District Hospital has implemented GE Healthcare’s ViewPoint ultrasound application to provide digital documentation at the trust. The system provides reporting and image archiving functionality, patient scheduling, examination data and lab results, integrated into an electronic record. In addition the application, which was installed by HealthNetConnections, will be used to provide nuchal translucency calculations to pregnant women and instant reporting of each examination.

NHS North East upgrades intranet and extranet

NHS East has upgraded its intranet and extranet from Microsoft SharePoint 2003 to SharePoint 2010 using the NHS Intranet Solution Accelerator from Cloud2. The strategic health authority decided to move to SharePoint 2010 after negative feedback from staff about the existing site access, navigation and search, and because it wanted to improve its management of information. The upgrade will also provide an embedded extranet.

Simpl creates testing framework

Healthcare IT advisor and integrator Simpl has created a software application development testing framework for Informing Healthcare, the NHS technology programme in Wales. The testing framework defines a consistent approach to in-house application testing across the organisation. The framework provides a set of documents which provides clear testing guidance and sets expectations to external, third-party suppliers of applications.

Airwave develops acute training platform

Airwave has created a bespoke, web-based, e-learning training platform to improve the care of acutely ill patients on general hospital wards. The platform, developed in collaboration with Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Critical Care network, will focus on safe care and reducing the need for admissions to high dependency or intensive care units. The multi-media content is designed to be delivered in five to ten minute modules that follow NICE clinical guidelines. Doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants can access the content from any internet connection.

Spotting the sick child given enhanced features

The Department of Health-funded online training programme, Spotting the Sick Child, has been upgraded to include new resources and additional interactive training features. The resource was developed by OCB Media with support from experts in child health and emergency medicine from Leicester University. It helps GPs and doctors and nurses in emergency departments to examine and diagnose seven common childhood problems, such as rash, fever and fits. The upgrade means organisations and individuals must pay for what was a free resource, but there is a 14 day free trial and the cost of an individual subscription has been capped at £5.

‘Beating the Blues’ delivered through General Healthcare Group

Beating the Blues (BTB), a computer delivered programme that uses established techniques in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to treat depression and anxiety, is to be delivered through BMI Healthcare, the principal subsidiary of the General Healthcare Group. The programme developed by Ultrasis in conjunction with the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College, London. It was recommended for use by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in 2006 and is available through primary care. It will be delivered through the BMI Healthcare website and other BMI Healthcare services.

Ask Brook interactive text messaging service

Sexual health charity Brook has launched an interactive text messaging service as part of its Ask Brook information service. Young people can now text Ask Brook with any question about sexual health or relationships and receive an individual response within one working day. The new text number is 07717 989 023. Normal network rates apply.

Ardentia launches Cassius Vision

Ardentia has announced the launch of Cassius Vision, the latest version of its web-based reporting tool, which is used by more than 80 NHS trusts and health boards. The new version offers improved access to online assistance and new options for trust to customise the software. David Beeson, development director at Ardentia, said: "Cassius is an integral part of all of our business intelligence solutions, acting as the backbone for the analysis and review of data by NHS organisations. We have taken time to ensure that Cassius Vision offers significant improvements to users to assist Trusts in a particularly challenging climate."

Capita launches membership management platform

Capita Membership Services has launched a membership management database platform for foundation trusts. The platform will allow foundation trusts to generate a ‘heat map’ in Google Maps showing where their members are located, to track communications and event attendance, and assess the effectiveness of recruitment strategies. There is also a dashboard for governors. Capita Membership Services claims to work with half the foundation trusts in England.

Bytec Medical launches infection control keyboard

Bytec Medical, a recently formed medical equipment manufacturer, has announced that its first product will be a keyboard designed for use in hospitals. The company says the Medi-Key keyboard is made from hypoallergenic, latex-free silicone rubber and coated to stand up to common hospital disinfectants. Other features include easy-to-clean keys and a smart disinfect cleaning alert. Wired and wireless and backlit versions for use at night and in low-light environments are available.