Integration: the nuts and bolts of ‘connect don’t replace’
In its recent Informatics Planning guidance, the Department of Health announced a new “philosophy” for healthcare IT. Instead of expecting to “replace all” their IT systems with national solutions, trusts were told they should be planning to “connect all” and to focus on Clinical 5 functionality.
This has led to a renewed focus on integration projects. Yet Mike Symers of ReStart Consulting argues that this is not just a matter of finding the right integration engine. Trusts also need to focus on installation, configuration, integration and training; which is where an integration partner like ReStart comes in.
NHS Yorkshire and the Humber has taken one approach to achieving interoperability across local healthcare communities. It has focused on one electronic patient record, one trust integration engine and one service delivery partner.
Alan Baker, its assistant chief information officer, says a number of trusts have been able to effectively implement InterSystems Ensemble, to exchange ideas and best practice on doing so. The first trust to use the new approach, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has already reaped time, efficiency and cost benefits.
ReStart Consulting says it is receiving an increasing number of requests for a managed service, covering a full year’s development and support, to help trusts needing support with integration. It has started to offer a ReStart integration price book, fixing the cost to a trust for a year or more, to enable them to forecast their future costs with confidence.
For more information: visit the ReStart website or contact managing director Mike Symers. |
