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Clinical PC's at patients’ bedside will save NHS time and money
Tue 24th Feb 09 - 9:00
ANS Group revolutionises access to patient records with ‘virtual desktop' solution
ANS Group and Quest Software have partnered to provide a virtual desktop development for Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust. The solution will serve up to 2000 users, allowing medical staff to access patient records securely and efficiently at their desktop and at the bedside. The solution will provide the trust with greater efficiencies in working practice, leading to cost savings and improved security practices.
The unique SmartiD authentication solution, developed by ANS Group, combined with a Virtual Access Suite from Provision Network, a division of Quest Software, will enable NPfIT card users to seamlessly access NHS national applications through the virtualised desktop. Users can access their corporate desktop from any terminal in the hospital including bedside entertainment units, only available when the NPflT smartcard is inserted. The desktop can then automatically revert back to the generic workstation or entertainment system once the card is removed. The terminals will not hold any patient data once the smartcard is removed, eliminating the risk of data theft.
Russell Banks, Head of IT, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust explains:
"The scheme has been high on the Trust's desirable developments list for some time and could dramatically transform current patient record systems. The solution will allow medical and nursing staff to increase the time they spend on patient care, giving patients more of the individual attention they require, by reducing the need to log in and out of numerous systems. Other benefits include the reduction of the endless administrative paper trail, freeing up revenue which can now be invested into other areas of improving patient care."
Martin Bradburn, Technical Director, ANS Group comments:
"ANS Group has a great record of innovation when it comes to using technology to solve problems and we are very proud and excited about the potential for this solution. Implementation across the NHS would have significant benefits for medical services in the UK, and we look forward to working with Sheffield and other NHS trusts to roll this out."
The solution will allow a highly scalable Microsoft Windows service to run inside a virtual machine appliance. The entertainment systems will then be able to communicate with the virtualised datacenter via a web interface, allowing medical staff access to the virtual infrastructure and patient records. The Trust hopes to implement the system initially as a trial on one ward that will then be rolled out to the rest of the bedside terminal devices, up to 140 in total, in order to reap the benefits of the technology.