An innovative healthcare IT system developed in Bath that helps paramedics deliver better care to patients has been shortlisted as a finalist in two leading industry awards.
The Electronic Referral Information Sharing System (ERISS) was commissioned by the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) and built in collaboration with IPL, the Bath-based IT services firm.
It is competing in the category for Best use of IT to support integrated healthcare services at the E-Health Insider Awards 2014 and is also a finalist in the ISD Informatics Awards 2014.
ERISS, which has 2,333 registered users, enables care providers to share information and manage relationships and patient care by providing information, support and continuity of care outside of traditional clinical settings.
NWAS deputy medical director Dr David Ratcliffe GP said: “As a GP it is sometimes frustrating to find that a patient has been admitted to hospital via ambulance when there is a care plan in place that could have prevented the admission.
“Over the last year I have been using ERISS to inform NWAS of care plans and other useful information such as next of kin, carer details and access issues. The system then reminds me when the plan is due for updating and alerts the ambulance staff that there is a plan prior to their arrival at the patient.
“Within our commissioning group we are now going to upload all of the consented patients registered for the admission avoidance enhanced service onto ERISS to ensure the ambulance service can provide safe care closer to home as much as possible.” 
IPL services director Simon Catley, pictured, added: “ERISS is a perfect example of where innovative use of IT can genuinely improve people’s lives. We’re delighted that this work IPL has done with NWAS has been recognised by leading healthcare professionals as delivering excellence in this field.”
IPL designs, implements and supports the systems that enable public and private sector clients deliver better products and services as efficiently as possible.
It works across a wide range of sectors including banking, finance, telecoms, utilities, local and central government, oil, gas and pharmaceuticals. Clients include Nationwide, the Highways Agency and Lockheed Martin.
