InterSystems Ensemble Selected by Northgate Information Solutions to Support NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme
InterSystems has been selected by Northgate Information Solutions, a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets, to support its work under the NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP).
The national clinical IT system eSP (eScreener Plus), developed and supported by Northgate, is recognised as one of the most successful electronic screening systems in the NHS. It provides a national online information and performance management system, including fully automated notification of new babies born, enabling clinicians to effectively manage screening and follow-up services.
InterSystems Ensemble® rapid integration platform has been chosen to enable data to be fed directly to the eSP from the 2,400 pieces of hearing test equipment located at 182 NHS Trusts. This will remove the need for manual importing or duplicate entry, leading to improved data quality and simplified processes.
"This is a very exciting stage in the development of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme. The improvements being delivered by Northgate will not only improve efficiency but also lead to better programme governance and improved outcomes," explained Nick Waddell of the NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme. "We are now in a good position to take forward the planned integration of the screening management system into the Connecting for Health National Care Records Service (NCRS)."
Andy Gordon-Jones, Healthcare Director at Northgate Information Solutions, said: "Hearing impairment and deafness can now be identified in children within the first few months of birth rather than at three years of age. The improvements we are delivering to eSP will further support the provision of an efficient and effective screening process, responsive to the needs of families."
"We are delighted that Northgate Information Solutions has selected InterSystems to support its work under the NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme", commented Graham Frost, Group Director and Managing Director UK Region, InterSystems. Frost adds, "This further endorses Ensemble as 2007's most successful and desirable integration platform preferred by NHS and associated end users. The combination of Northgate's skills and expertise and InterSystems innovative and reliable integration platform will rapidly deliver the benefits that this service requires with the flexibility to easily handle changes as new NHS services come on stream."
About InterSystems
InterSystems Corporation is a global software technology leader with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and offices in 22 countries. InterSystems provides innovative products that enable fast development, deployment, and integration of enterprise-class applications. InterSystems CACHE® is a high performance object database that makes applications faster and more scalable. InterSystems Ensemble® is a rapid integration platform that enriches applications with new functionality, and makes them connectable. InterSystems HealthShare(TM) is a platform that leverages existing healthcare applications to rapidly create regional or national electronic health records. InterSystems TrakCare® is an advanced patient-centric healthcare information system that is installed in leading hospitals in 25 countries. For more information, visit www.InterSystems.com.
About Northgate Information Solutions
Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets. Northgate's task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology, and to share in the economic and social benefits that this brings. In the UK, the company works with four out of five local authorities and every police force. Northgate supports public service transformation through sustainable performance partnerships. Its technology is used in the administration of more than £12 billion of revenues and benefits; in electoral administration systems covering 18 million people; to support the national system for reporting police performance; and in the management of over three million local authority and housing association properties worldwide. Founded in 1969, the company has over 6,000 employees. www.northgate-is.com/publicservices
About the NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP)
The NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme aims to identify moderate, severe and profound hearing impairment in newborn babies. The programme offers all parents in England the opportunity to have their baby's hearing tested shortly after birth. The hearing screening programme in England is the largest integrated programme of universal newborn hearing screening in the world and is considered a beacon programme in terms of service quality and innovation and for involving health, education and early support. The programme has so far identified around 3,400 babies in England as having permanent hearing impairment or deafness, enabling early intervention and support for families to maximise the prospects of children reaching their full potential.
Further information can be found at http://hearing.screening.nhs.uk/
For further information:
InterSystems:
Arseny Tseytlin
020 7395 7044
arseny.tseytlin@fleishmaneurope.com
Northgate:
Kathy Sutton
020 7849 3403 / 07966 890401
ksutton@fellowsassociates.com
Naomi Stevenson
020 7849 3508 / 07966 890403
nstevenson@fellowsassociates.com
