Mobile IT solution for 1000 health staff in Cheshire
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The prpoject is for Cheshire County Council, Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), Central Cheshire PCT, Cheshire West PCT, Ellesmere Port and Neston PCT.
The Government's requirements under the National Service Framework (NSF) for older people require person-centred care and the Single Assessment Process (SAP) is key to its delivery.
The Single Assessment Process ensures that older people are placed at the heart of assessment and care planning. It ensures that needs are assessed thoroughly, without duplication of effort between the different care agencies involved. The introduction of the SAP in Cheshire will enable Health and Social Care to deliver this.
Alan Allman, Senior IT Manager at Cheshire County Council said: "The Single Assessment Process solution implemented by IBM will have a positive impact on older people in Cheshire by standardising assessments across Health and Social Care. It will provide consistency in recording and allow information to be shared electronically across Cheshire agencies."
"Cheshire County Council, in partnership with Cheshire Primary Care Trusts, is the first local authority to launch an IT initiative that addresses the requirements of the Single Assessment Process in a truly strategic manner," said Christopher Wilson, Vice President, Public Sector, IBM UK. "Cheshire's innovative approach is a resounding endorsement for the role that I.T. can play in delivering improved citizen services and public sector efficiencies."
Commenting on the announcement, Jacqui Harvey, Chief Executive of Ellesmere Port and Neston PCT and Acting Chief Executive of Cheshire West PCT, said: "Improving the flow of patient information between the many different organisations that care for older people is a fundamental building block to streamlining the assessment process in the best interests of our patients. I am delighted that we are, together, pursuing an IT-based solution that will help us achieve this goal."
Cheshire has chosen the internationally developed tool for needs assessment, the Minimum Data Set (MDS-HC) protocol from interRAI. This is one of a small number of tools accredited by the Department of Health. This provides decision support for assessors by automatically highlighting areas of concern and enables the creation of the care plan. In the future, as a by-product of routine assessment, the protocol will provide Cheshire with detailed information to guide resource utilisation and service planning.
For health and social care assessors, the system will enable mobile working, minimise data collection, and allow sharing of assessment information in a secure manner. A face-to-face training programme is being supported by a computer-based training package that allows assessors to build up their expertise.
The system will be accessed by health and social care practitioners through a web browser. This supports collaborative working through a shared assessment and referral workspace, in a secure and authenticated information-sharing environment. The system will enable mobile working and reduce duplication of information. Cheshire County Council and Cheshire Primary Care Trust partners will pilot the use of digital pens, notebook and tablet PCs – and other mobile devices – over the next six months, thus making home assessments easier for both workers and older people.
The system will be hosted at IBM Warwick and goes live in January 2006. Initially serving 1,000 health and social care professionals from Cheshire County Council, Cheshire Primary Care Trusts, Cheshire Hospital Trusts and the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Trusts, the service will scale up on demand. IBM will provide full support including maintenance, infrastructure and helpdesk as part of a managed service approach.
The inter-agency security model approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (OPDM) is implemented using IBM Tivoli Access Manager software and will ensure personal details and health records are accessed and stored securely.
Related links to this article:
Cheshire Primary Care Trusts
IBM
Esprit
interRAI
TSO
Background information to this article:
interRAI is a collaborative network of researchers in over 20 countries committed to improving health care for persons who are elderly, frail, or disabled. interRAI's goal is to promote evidence-based clinical practice and policy decisions through the collection and interpretation of high quality data about the characteristics and outcomes of persons served across a variety of health and social services settings.
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