Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust signed a seven year deal to become Alert Life Science's first NHS site on 9 November 2009. It will start by implementing the company's software in accident and emergency, followed by cardiology, which will act as a pilot for the rest of the seven site trust's Vision project.
Philip Graham, head of information management and technology for the trust, said Alert provided the "best fit" for the multi-million pound Vision project. The new software will claim about half the budget.
"We didn't want a Pas (patient administration system) replacement, we did want full clinical functionality," he told SmartHealthcare.com, including functions such as result ordering to speed up discharges and electronic prescribing. "From a change management point of view, the look and feel of the solution is very good as well."
At the end of the contract, the trust is scheduled to move to the National Programme for IT's standard electronic patient record system, iSoft's Lorenzo suite. Alert is part of the programme's NHS Additional Supply Capability and Capacity (ASCC) framework.
Graham described Alert as "an interim solution," but asked if the trust might decide to retain it, he replied: "Never say never... We're not looking to put ourselves down a cul-de-sac with this."
"It will benefit our patients by making comprehensive information, such as test results, medication orders and progress notes, easily and immediately accessible to the doctors and nurses who are caring for them at all stages of treatment from a minor problem to an emergency incident," said trust chief executive Aidan Kehoe.
"Most staff will already use a computer system as part of the provision of care in their daily routine, but with Vision this will be expanded to include a number of procedures such as ordering prescriptions, care pathways and clinical documentation."
Alert, which is based in Portugal, expects its first UK site – Bath's private Circle hospital – to go live in January.
