One of Ireland’s largest acute teaching hospitals has rolled out order communications and results reporting from CliniSys as part of an upgrade to its pathology systems.
Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) went live with the Integrated Clinical Environment or ICE in November at the end of a project that forms part of a wider strategy to put modern, digital technology into the hands of clinicians.
The hospital has also introduced an electronic patient record (EPR), replacing legacy ICT systems and paper-based records and processes.
The two deployments are part of an ongoing plan to provide a single source of patient information for medical professionals.
The ICE implementation integrated the ordering and reporting of tests with the EPR and was supported by Medical Supply Company (MSC), the CliniSys partner in Ireland, in conjunction with hospital ICT experts and clinical teams.
The highly-successful implementation of the ICE project is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved for the future, drawing on innovative digital technology to drive integrated care and that supports clinicians more efficiently care for their patients
It is the first deployment of ICE in a hospital in Ireland.
Chief information officer, David Wall, said: “This has been a massive project to deliver and it’s a tribute to everybody involved that it has been delivered against the backdrop of the pandemic and the challenges of a cyber attack on our health system this year.
“Everybody working at our hospital over the past 18 months has been incredibly busy, but with strong support from MSC and CliniSys, we have managed a seamless go-live with a system that will support positive and significant change.”
Chief clinical information officer, Dr Jason Carty, added: “Our staff are loving using ICE and the success of the project is testament to all the preparations, training, and its intuitive nature.
“It is saving time, reducing duplication, and improving outcomes.
“We are all excited to see ICE live, working, and delivering success.
“In the first week of going live with ICE we’ve gone from approximately 50% electronic orders to 90%, and we’re aiming for 100% in the very near future.”
The hospital is currently implementing its Digital Enabled Care Strategy, which will make it paper-light, and give clinicians faster, easier access to ‘any time, any where, any device’ information.
And the deployment of ICE will enable clinicians to order vital tests from its laboratory and non-laboratory areas electronically, and to receive the results alongside other patient information, supporting better, faster diagnosis and treatment.
This has been a massive project to deliver and it’s a tribute to everybody involved that it has been delivered against the backdrop of the pandemic and the challenges of a cyber attack on our health system this year
ICE will also support mobile phlebotomy as blood-taking experts will be able to visit patients on the wards, collect samples, and book tests using computers on mobile carts at the bedside.
They will even be able to link samples to patient wristbands using scanners, improving efficiency and safety.
Noel Campbell, IT director of MSC, said: “Tallaght University Hospital is once again leading the way with this first deployment of ICE in a hospital in Ireland.
“What this project does is to put software into the hands of clinicians.
“It can be launched with a single click from the EPR, which is the software that brings together patient information and documents and can be used by phlebotomists on the wards.
“Integration with the other ICT investments that the hospital is making is a big part of this project, and we are delighted to have been able to play a significant part in delivering on an idea that will pay huge dividends for staff and patients.”
Lucy Nugent, hospital chief executive, adds: “We have an ambitious long-term plan to enhance the care services our hospital delivers both on site and within the community.
In the first week of going live with ICE we’ve gone from approximately 50% electronic orders to 90%, and we’re aiming for 100% in the very near future
“The highly-successful implementation of the ICE project is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved for the future, drawing on innovative digital technology to drive integrated care and that supports clinicians more efficiently care for their patients.”
And Richard Craven, chief executive of CliniSys, said: “It’s great to see this first of kind deployment in Ireland, and we look forward to seeing ICE in use at an innovative institution that is determined to put modern technology at the heart of further improvement for clinicians and patients.”