Catalonian Healthcare Chooses IBM for 20 Million Euro Transformation Project4 July 2006
The Institut Català de la Salut (ICS) hasentered into a 20 million euro, 4-year agreement with IBM to transform andmodernise the healthcare information systems at 8 Catalonian hospitals. IBMconsultants will provide industry expertise to create and implement newsystems, improving the quality of health services offered to citizens ofthe region.
ICS is the major provider of health services in Catalonia. With more than35.000 professionals, it represents 80% of primary healthcare in Cataloniaand 30% of hospital healthcare. The agreement with IBM calls for a newdesign of all the steps needed to offer clinical treatment to a patient andis core to the transformation of the region's entire healthcare system.
IBM is also working in the design and implementation of a new managementmodel for all financial and economic management processes as well as thesupply chain and logistics. IBM business consultants will also be creatinga new model for Human Resources processes aimed at improving staffefficiency, as well as a new system for patient and clinic management.
The aim is to transform the entire system, simplifying processes for bothhealthcare workers and management. This means that patients will benefitfrom an agile service involving less administrative tasks and red tape. Itmakes for easier access to doctors and more precise diagnoses.
One of the key elements of the project is an electronic history of eachpatient, available to medical staff in each hospital. This solutionincludes vital details including previous ailments and medical test resultsthrough to allergy data. For patients, this means shorter waiting times fortreatment, a single medical file with consolidated, up-to-date informationand ensured confidentiality in a secure information system.
Medical staff will benefit from having immediate and easy access to eachpatient's medical history along with all X-rays and scanner images and beable to provide a more precise diagnosis, with the correct drugs availableas required. The project extends to the administration of the hospitalswith improved payroll and banking management and an upgraded shiftscheduling system.
"Innovation today is about applying the latest technology and thinking tosolve complex problems. In health care, there are a range of issues whereinnovation can play an important, transformational role," says José MaríaJoana, IBM Global Business Services for Spain, Portugal, Greece, Israel andTurkey. "This project positions ICS as one of the leaders in the healthcare sector, and we look forward to working with ICS to improve the qualityof health care services for the citizens of Catalonia."
This agreement follows a contract signed by IBM with ICS in 2005 for thetransformation of their financial and procurement processes and the newproject demonstrates IBM's leadership position in the healthcare industry.
IBM press contactJeanne Orfinikorfinik@us.ibm.com1-914-642-5410
SOURCE: IBM
Source: marketwire
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