The scanning of more than 100,000 health and maternity records is set to begin following the recent signing of a contract with a specialist document management company.
Digitising patient records is a key part of the Digital Future strategy for Noble’s Hospital which launched last year.
Minister for Health and Social Care, Kate Beecroft MHK, said: “This is a real step forward for the whole Digital Future programme at Noble’s Hospital and is concrete proof that the Department is absolutely committed to transforming healthcare in the digital age. It has taken hard work and careful effort to get to this point – as it should – but with a provider in place, we can really start to move ahead with this crucial new approach to how we deal with patient information.”
The contract has been awarded to MISL a company that specialises in secure document scanning, with over 30 years’ experience. MISL is being supported by local experts, Manx Business Solutions (MBS). MBS will be providing the central location for the scanning to physically take place, from its purpose-built premises in Tromode, as well as offering local knowledge and experience.
The announcement comes after a detailed procurement process, designed to make sure that speed, efficiency, cost and security were all taken into account.
The scanning will convert all the paper records and case notes held in patient records into electronic versions which can then be accessed by healthcare professionals using a specially designed viewer. A wide-ranging training programme has already started, to make sure that all those who need to access electronic records understand how to do so.
The scanning process is expected to start by March, and once the process is operating at full speed it is estimated that around 70,000 sheets of paper will be processed every single day.
The scale of the project is such that even at those levels of scanning it will still take around 15 months for the project to be concluded, and for all the existing paper records to be converted into electronic files.
At the same time, the Department of Health and Social Care is also overseeing a number of other projects designed to scan and file the paper material which will still be produced by the hospital every day.
The move to digital health records at Noble’s Hospital is a core part of the Government’s Digital Strategy. Chief Information and Digital Officer for the DHSC, Richard Wild, said: “I am delighted we have managed to agree this key contract with such a reputable supplier that has a preeminent track record in this field. Now we can start the real work of digitising the many thousands of paper records we hold. I have no doubt that this will be a key enabler in transforming the way we deliver health and social care across the whole Island.”
Commenting on the contract decision Eros Simone, Sales Director at MISL said: “All of us at MISL have been impressed by the robustness, and fairness, of this procurement process. And naturally we’re absolutely thrilled to be the chosen scanning partner. Already, in this preparation phase, there is a growing spirit of partnership with the Department’s project team. We can’t wait to get started on what promises to be an exciting and important project – for us and the Department too.”
