iSOFT unveils Lorenzo demo

iSOFT have released a Flash demo of their enterprise-wide clinical and administrative application Lorenzo on their website, and is asking for feedback from users.

The demo, which is not fully functional but aims to guide users through some of the most important aspects of the system, was uploaded to iSOFT’s website with little fanfare at the end of last month. Registration is required to view the demo; according to the company, around 500 people have signed up so far.

Gordon Lorimer, iSOFT’s NPfIT Commercial Director, said: "Our goal in creating the site was to make people aware of Lorenzo, how easy it is to use and the significant advancement in healthcare IT that it represents… iSOFT wants as many healthcare professionals as possible to share the Lorenzo experience and we feel that the online demo is an effective way to engage them."

The Lorenzo software will be available in the North West and West Midlands (NWWM) cluster, as well as in the East and North East under a separate deal made between iSOFT and Accenture.

There are currently eight sections in the demo, accompanied by either a voiceover or captions. These cover aspects of the software such as clinical data capture, timelines of encounters, and patient correspondence reports and documentation.

One interesting aspect of the electronic patient record display system in Lorenzo is that it will contain a graphical representation of how large the patient record would have been were it on paper. According to the demo, the system is also tailored to accept the new clinician smart cards to verify identity and the relationship the health professional has with the patient.

Beki Ruban, health implementation director and clinical director of the North West and West Midlands Cluster, one of the three clusters that will be using the Lorenzo product, said that the demo was especially useful for those who were unable to get to meetings to see demonstrations in person: "As the National Programme gains in momentum and as the Lorenzo application becomes clinically richer, the ability of healthcare professionals to be exposed to the solution in this innovative way and provide us with feedback and comments via the site will be extremely important."

Future plans for the demo include scenario-based and personalised demonstrations, that according to iSOFT will parallel developments in NPfIT. More information and the demo itself is available at http://lorenzo.isoftplc.com/ (registration required).