iReach has launched a new service to advise the Irish healthcare sector

cousin_borat

Just read this article, http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single6315. So millions have been overspent on various Healthcare projects specifically the PPARS. So what do we do now?

Am I wrong here or do we not have IT people within the department of health? We have the LGCSB (Local Goverment Computer Services Board) which acts as a strategiser and policy maker for county and regional councils. Don't get me wrong here, I have no problem with the goverment using managed services as most private companies are adopting this model. My problem is that the key decisions in IT and healthcare are going to relied upon advice from another external company, yet again.

This is taken from a blog on the iReach website
"One area we can already see, is a significant gap between the availability of technology and its adoption and deployment across the Health sector locally. We believe there is a need to increase the understanding and create a forum for debate on effective information management within the health and social care sectors. Not just among the specialists in technology, but among the clinicians, managers and other professionals whom make a difference in delivering care."

All very commendable, however why can't there be a cross functional team of these people including IT people from the department of health carry out this function. Do we really need another external Market Intelligence company to advise and engage stake holders? Does the Department of health not have the talent within to formulate its own strategy and follow the example of other countries that have tackled IT and healthcare successfully.

antoinolachtnai

cousin_borat wrote:

All very commendable, however why can't there be a cross functional team of these people including IT people from the department of health carry out this function.

Basically a good question. I don't think there's the talent. The HSE hasn't appointed a CIO or similar role on a permanent basis. (Disclosure: I applied for this job some time ago.)

Do we really need another external Market Intelligence company to advise and engage stake holders? Does the Department of health not have the talent within to formulate its own strategy and follow the example of other countries that have tackled IT and healthcare successfully.

Well, you always need external resources when you're talking about this big an expenditure. However, you still need the talent to manage it.

I wrote something about it at http://www.eire.com/2005/10/04/it-disaster-in-the-irish-health-service/ .

cousin_borat

Yes, I'm involved with rolling out ERP systems and payroll is always the hardest part so I can understand the problems faced by PPARS in the past.

BTW, you should look at selling more stylish cases as well as skins for laptops. I'm sure alot of girls would go for that. Nice idea though!

antoinolachtnai

OT, but thanks for the kind words and the suggestion! You mean outer cases for laptops? If you have any other ideas let me know. And if anybody on boards wants a discount, send me a pm.

The payroll in the health service is very difficult. There are a lot of different payscales and many more local customs and practices that will have to be dealt with. There are over 1300 people working in the health service doing payoll alone, excluding the IT support - that'll give you an idea how complicated it is -. There was a similar situation in the UK NHS and they tackled it rather differently and more successfully.

cousin_borat

I know EDS was involved in their Tax system. Were they involved in the Health system in the UK?

antoinolachtnai

Everybody is involved in everything in the UK public services. One mega-integration firm isn't necessarily all that better than another.

Don't think systems, think management, think structures. It's a complicated, long story, but they basically simplified the pay structures and work practices before they tried to consolidate the payroll.