Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 04:53 am
BridgeHead Software, a leader in healthcare data management, has been awarded a position on the new National Framework Agreement for Legacy Information Integration and Management.
The framework agreement provides NHS Trusts with the opportunity to procure BridgeHead’s award-winning HealthStore® Clinical Data Repository solution and associated data services. This enables Trusts to retire their legacy applications while maintaining access to the valuable data they contain.
The Commercial Procurement Services of The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust recognised the challenges faced by many NHS organisations in dealing with legacy applications and data. Consequently, they established this framework agreement to help Trusts address these issues through the purchase of suitable solutions and services.
Currently, NHS Trusts manage various legacy applications, including outdated or unsupported systems, duplicated platforms resulting from mergers, and applications replaced by more advanced alternatives such as Electronic Patient Record (EPR) solutions or Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) as part of digitalisation initiatives. Despite their outdated nature, these applications often hold critical patient, clinical, and operational data that staff may struggle to access when needed. Moreover, maintaining legacy systems incurs significant costs and demands substantial resources for healthcare IT teams. Furthermore, older legacy applications are more susceptible to cyberattacks, posing risks to hospital operations and services.
BridgeHead’s HealthStore® offers an innovative solution for managing legacy information. It can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud. HealthStore consolidates data from disparate legacy systems into a central repository and registry, ensuring efficient and intelligent storage. The data is protected against misuse, loss, and cyberattacks while being made readily available as part of a comprehensive patient record. It seamlessly integrates with primary systems such as EPR, providing access to all necessary information within the “patient context.”
John Colyer, Pre-Sales and Bid Manager, commented, “BridgeHead has successfully gone through a competitive and rigorous selection process to secure a position on the new framework agreement. Our HealthStore® Clinical Data Repository is well-equipped to address the growing challenges associated with legacy systems and the valuable information they hold. By implementing HealthStore, NHS Trusts can effectively retire their legacy application estate, saving money, time, and resources, while reducing the risk of cyberattacks. Clinical teams will benefit from instant access to all the information they need for consultations, diagnoses, and patient treatment. Being part of this framework agreement enables NHS Trusts to take advantage of HealthStore’s benefits in retiring legacy applications while leveraging the valuable information they contain for the long term.”
Jim Beagle, President and CEO at BridgeHead Software, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “As a leading provider of data management solutions in the healthcare sector, we are thrilled that this framework agreement offers NHS Trusts an easy procurement route. At a time when the NHS faces a significant increase in legacy applications, this agreement marks an eagerly awaited step forward. We look forward to driving transformation across the entire NHS by supporting more Trusts in modernising their approach to legacy data management.”
