NHSX and NHS England have published a list of 8 accredited suppliers of electronic patient record solutions, a new section on the Health Systems Support Framework.
The framework was created to provide services that support the delivery of integrated care, with the new EPR section to provide access to supplier systems able to meet the Global Digital Exemplars (GDE) standards. NHSX and NHS England hope it will mean Trusts and other NHS entities can digitise more quickly.
Eight suppliers were successful – Allscripts, Cerner, DXC, IMS Maxims, Nervecentre, Meditech, TPP and System C.
The providers were evaluated by NHS England and Improvement, NHSX, NHS Digital, Department of Health and Social Care, local care provider organisations, regional teams and national bodies.
Shane Tickell, CEO, IMS MAXIMS, said they were required to video every piece of functionality included in its listing live and in-use at an NHS trust, and to have the videos endorsed by a customer at director level. NHS England then checked the endorsements.
Shane said he expects the framework to be used by hospital groups and consortia looking to unify their approach to technology and by smaller trusts looking to progress their digital ambitions, either through a big bang approach or an incremental approach, without incurring the disruption and expense of a ‘rip and replace’.
“We are expecting STPs and ICSs to start to centralise across the piece, and for trusts to form consortia where it makes sense for a number of organisations to use the same system. The framework will give them a route to do that.”
“We are also seeing an emerging market for smaller trusts that want to progress their IT at their own pace. Our inclusion on lot one will give them another way to procure our system, which is ideal for trusts looking to do that.”
Matthew Gould, CEO of NHSX, said “Helping clinicians access and share data effectively is crucial for patient safety. Today’s announcement is about giving care providers the tools they need to achieve this, and a key part of our mission to ensure the NHS benefits from the very best digital services.”
All of these suppliers were asked to demonstrate not only how they would deliver enterprise wide solutions but also how they could provide thinner deployments that provide a basis for modular solutions and how they would interoperate with other systems to ensure that data is available to clinicians at the point of need.
Distie Profit, General Manager, Cerner UK said “This achievement bolsters our commitment and drive to continue building strong partnerships with the NHS in order to help organisations achieve their digital vision and deliver their regional goals for the benefit of their staff and citizens. We are proud of the work we’ve accomplished with our existing clients as they progress in their various transformation journeys, and we can only look forward to the endeavours to come as a result of this announcement.”
Paul Volkaerts, CEO, Nervecentre Software said to HTN “To be on this framework is testament to the hard-work, long-term innovative vision and collaborative approach Nervecentre have been building on for nearly 10 years now and a proud achievement since the launch of our Next Generation EPR only a year ago. Expansion was always our belief by delivering clinician led products and services, designed, built and implemented with our customers at every stage. We are delighted to be part of a framework that fits hand in hand with our own modular strategy approach to patient safety, flow and paperless goals.”
HTN asked TPP for comment, Geri Boynova, Senior Account Manager, said “We are obviously delighted to be included on the Health Systems Support Framework (HSSF) as one of the eight suppliers accredited to provide electronic patient record solutions. The framework both simplifies the digitisation process and gives confidence to providers when choosing digital solutions for their organisation.”
“The need for all those involved in patient care to have access to information is of paramount importance. The emphasis on data sharing and interoperability will be vital to supporting the vision set out in “The Future of healthcare: our vision for digital, data and technology in health and care.”
There was also a healthy debate sparked on Twitter, with many asking where a number of other key suppliers were. The conversations included:
Those of us old enough to remember the NHS National Program for IT are experiencing flashbacks
— PeterW (@PeterW4tw) August 5, 2019
Interesting list particularly as the procurement team of a new LHCR discounted a number of these and only one made the shortlist reluctantly.
— Cancer Mum (@CancerMum) August 6, 2019
