Healthcare IT news in brief

Frameworks and contracts

NHS Shared Business Services delivers framework for prescribing systems

NHS SBS has launched the Medicines Management Prescribing Decision Support Systems Framework forprescribing systems that help doctors, nurses and other clinical staff select the most affordable and appropriate treatments for specific patients. NHS organisations can now choose to purchase either OptimiseRx or ScriptSwitch, without the need to engage in complex and costly individual procurement exercises. The framework was created after five clinical commissioning groups turned to NHS SBS to allow them to approach the market for a more competitive service.

Genomics England Selects Skyscape To Support 100,000 Genomes Project

Skyscape Cloud Services Limited has been chosen by Genomics England to deliver compute-as-a-service solutions to support the Government’s 100,000 Genomes Project. Genomics England will leverage the Skyscape platform for the processing and analysis of genomic data. It will utilise Skyscape’s two UK data centres to host a private cloud and will be available to health and social care organisations via the N3 network.

Trust news

Bath and North East Somerset introduce system to reduce missed appointments
 
Twenty-five GPs in Bath and North East Somerset GPs are rolling out an automated telephone appointment booking system over November and December. The round-the-clock service, known as Patient Partner, allows patients to choose their preferred appointment time, cancel, amend or check an appointment at the touch of a button.

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust uses HSS Communicator

The Radiology department at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been successfully using Healthcare Software Solutions’ Communicator Module within its radiology information system – CRIS – since April of this year.  The communicator module speeds up communication between radiology and other departments, enabling more rapid and effective communication with referrers. This ensures patients with ‘critical findings’ can be seen more quickly, enhancing the probability of a positive outcome.

Company news

Patients Know Best gets £3.5m investment

Patients Know Best, the fully patient-controlled online medical records system, has today raised £3.5m of investment. The round was led by Balderton Capital with support from existing investor Maxfield Capital. Alexander Lazarev, partner at Maxfield Capital said:“Maxfield Capital has been working with Patients Know Best for over a year and, in that time, we’ve seen outstanding rates of growth and global traction. The company is now winning contracts against major competitors across the world and, with this investment, we look forward to helping the company achieve its ambitions into the future.”

Philips launches ‘Cookbook’

Philips and the Advancing Care Coordination & Telehealth Deployment Program have launched a ‘cookbook’ – a set of guidelines from a pan-European group of leading companies, universities, hospitals and healthcare authorities – on how to overcome barriers to successfully implement care coordination and telehealth services on a large scale. The guidelines will allow local healthcare authorities to develop and adapt their own systems, giving them the potential to transform care for chronically ill patients through streamlining and integrating practices.

Intelerad deployed at Fortius Clinic

Intelerad Medical Systems has deployed IntelePACS picture archiving and communication system to the Fortius Clinic in London, U.K. A recognised centre of excellence, the Fortius Clinic is a leading orthopaedic and sports injury clinic that specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

Campaigns

Crowdfunding campaign aims to raise £15,000 to deliver telemedicine solution

Brighton-based charity Virtual Doctors has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the roll out of a telemedicine app and support network to rural health centres in Zambia. The charity has partnered with Landmark Information Group to develop bespoke software for the scheme. The team at Landmark offered their time and expertise to the project free of charge. They aim to empower overworked and under-resourced clinical officers at rural health centres using a combination of cutting-edge mobile technology and collaboration with qualified doctors in the UK.