Derbyshire ICS signs 10-year shared records deal with Orion Health

A Derbyshire integrated care system has signed a 10-year partnership with Orion Health which includes a target to have a shared care record in place by September.

Joined Up Care Derbyshire will also use Orion’s Discover analytics platform to improve information sharing across Derby, Chesterfield and surrounding areas.

Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are expected to have shared care recording in place by September 2021.

The deal aims give staff working across Joined Up Care Derbyshire access to information held in the existing medical interoperability gateway by March. Access to data, defined by NHSX as the minimum viable solution for a shared care record, is expected by September.

Tracy Allen, chief executive of Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust and lead on digital innovation for the ICS, said: “This is a really important step in generating much better integrated and streamlined records for local people. The contract with Orion enables us to begin to scope the way in which we might work, securely and safely, over the coming months.”

The deal with Orion will provide staff with access to information, including social care data, in one secure location, while the Discover platform will allow the collection of data needed for future service planning and population health management.

Dawn Atkinson, head of programme for the ICS digital workstream, said: “All of the organisations that are working together in Joined Up Care Derbyshire were completely committed to this before Covid-19 happened, but the pandemic has really focused attention on how a joined-up, digital environment can benefit professionals and patients.

“As we went through the procurement process, we looked for a strategic partner to help us meet our immediate requirements but also to help us evolve.

“We want to pull together data sets so we can plan the best possible services and enable the professionals working in them to do their jobs more effectively. We want them to have the best data and information available on which to make decisions at the point of care, so they can deliver better outcomes and experience for patients and users.”

Nadine Carey-Whitehead, sales director at Orion Health, added: “We are delighted to be able to bring our expertise in developing shared care records to Joined Up Care Derbyshire. We will need to draw on that to deliver on the ambitious go-live targets that have been set for March and September.

“Once we are live, we are looking forward to working in partnership with Joined Up Care Derbyshire to evolve the record and work on population health management. They know they have a real opportunity to leap ahead. We are looking forward to supporting them on that journey.”

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