Healthcare IT news round-up

This months’ healthcare IT round-up includes a new software launch to address drug theft in the pharmaceutical industry, Oxford University Hospitals’ digitisation of its HR records, South West London CCGs benefiting from the myGP app and Information Commissioner’s Office launching a grants programme to promote data protection and privacy research.

Unisys launches new software providing enhanced visibility and management in pharmaceutical industry

Unisys has launched PharmaTrack, a new software that combines leading security, advanced data analytics and compliance technology in a single, unified platform – to address drug theft and counterfeiting and to enhance patient safety.

It resulted from an overlap of industry needs between two industries: life sciences and healthcare, and travel and transportation. PharmaTrack also enables track-and-trace capabilities so companies can verify product shipping information, monitor temperature issues and other environmental factors affecting drug viability. It allows companies to flag potentially counterfeit product at any point in the supply chain. ActiveInsights PharmaTrack is now available globally. 

Oxford University Hospitals’ HR function achieves paper-lite status

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a world-renowned centre of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK, partnered with Kodak Alaris partner MISL to digitise all its HR records after relocating its central HR function to new premises in Cowley, Oxford.

Oxford University Hospitals had about 13,000 files, each with multiple pages that needed to be digitised. MISL did this in batches, arranging two collections a month. It took about 16 weeks to process 2.5 million images.  Once captured, all the digital documents were fed into Folding Space EDRMS (Electronic Data and Record Management System). The trust says it has secured significant financial savings in terms of time savings and efficiency gains, according to Caroline Davies, interim head of recruitment and retention at the trust.

South West London CCGs to benefit from myGP app

London-based health tech company iPLATO Healthcare have announced an additional six clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), representing more than 1.6 million patients across South West London, will use iPlato and the myGP app. The free patient-facing platform helps speed up access to care by allowing patients to securely book and/or cancel appointments 24/7.

Fully funded by NHS England, the new groups represent 203 GP practices bringing the total uptake of the iPLATO service to 19 out of 32 London CCGs. Rod Ewen, clinical IT lead for Wandsworth CCG said the iPlato application and MyGP app were evaluated by Wandsworth CCG and by local GPs as the preferred innovative digital tool for improving patient engagement, outcomes and access to services across the six CCGs.

ICO launches new grants programme to promote data protection and privacy research

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a grants programme to promote and support independent, innovative research and solutions focused on privacy and data protection issues. Elizabeth Denham, information commissioner, said information rights evolve with time. “The new grants programme is designed to give practical research and policy a stronger voice in this evolution.”

There will be a number of grants awarded each year. Awards will range from £20,000 to £100,0000. The objectives of the ICO Grants Programme include:

• Support and encourage research and privacy enhancing solutions in significant areas of data protection risk
• Increase awareness of privacy enhancing solutions with data controllers across the UK

Proposals do not need to be technology based but must have practical application and provide real world solutions that are of clear public benefit to the UK.