02 July 2009
Health and Social Services is awarding contracts today (Thursday 2 July) to two suppliers, InterSystems Corporation and General Electric Medical Systems, who will help build a new computerised care records system for Jersey’s hospitals.
Frontline staff need vital information (diagnosis, drug regime, images, and tests results) about those they care for. Every year, the Jersey General Hospital treats 40,000 A&E attendees, more than 13,000 in-patients, and 120,000 out-patients. Modern computer systems are the best way to manage such important information in huge quantities.
The ICR programme will be designed and delivered in stages over an extended period. The first stage will take approximately 18 months and will cost £12.4 million.
This first stage of investment in the Integrated Care Record Programme puts in place the modern technology at the heart of the clinical systems. It will improve the organisation of care around the patient, and make services more efficient. It will allow X-Rays and other medical images to be available on the doctors' computers exactly when and where they are needed.
The first stage establishes a firm foundation for the clinical systems to be added on as funding becomes available in future years.
Health and Social Services Minister, Deputy Anne Pryke, said: “I am delighted to sign these contracts for the ICR programme. The team has spent a great deal of time researching a solution which is suitable for Jersey and the number of people we care for. ICR will bring numerous benefits, for example the improved administration system will reduce the number of times the same information is collected from patients. Most importantly though, it will be focused on individual patient needs.”
The programme will be designed by two main suppliers: InterSystems Corporation will build the electronic patient record using a product called ‘TrakCare’ to replace and improve existing records, including the Patient Administration System which has been used for more than 25 years; General Electric Medical Systems will provide a Radiology Information System (RIS) and a Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS), which will eliminate the use of X-Ray film and allow X-Rays to be stored digitally.
Mike Pollard, Chief Officer of the Health & Social Services Department said “This is state of the art technology which our clinical staff are keen to get their hands on.”
The new technology provided by InterSystems Corporation will link to, and gradually build on, existing systems, creating an increasingly comprehensive record of care, which will grow over the ten year period of the contract.
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