Rapid Diagnosis

Rapid Diagnosis

Many new rapid diagnostic tests which greatly reduce the timeframe for infection diagnosis have recently been developed.  During the year, MOIC have been working on two projects in the area of rapid diagnostics.  One, in the hospital setting is with Accelerate who have a device that is used in the diagnosis of septicaemia.  This project has included the development of a health economic model and the installation of a number of machines in NI hospitals.

SBRI Home

SBRI Home

Under the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) scheme, commercial companies work closely with the Trusts in order to find new solutions to health and social care problems.  During 2018/19 a number of phase 2 projects commenced and MOIC were involved in in the following areas:

  • SBRI Home considered enhanced domiciliary care. NHSCT/MOIC worked with PillPacPlus Limited on a project considering use of mobile technology in the home care setting.  Under this project an app for homecare workers was developed and tested.  The app takes information from hospital and community pharmacy settings and aims to improve information available to the homecare worker, thereby optimising client care.
  • Under SBRI Fast, NHSCT/MOIC worked with Healthcare Analytics on a project to develop a system to optimise use of hospital pharmacy staff skill-mix. The developed system helps to ensure that pharmacy staff are directed to where their skills are needed most to improve patient care.
Analytic tagging with commercial partner Healthcare Analytics

Analytic tagging with commercial partner Healthcare Analytics

 

MOIC has worked with commercial partner Healthcare Analytics on the continued of secure analytic tagging.  Using the technology, it is possible to track medical equipment as it moves through the hospital and community setting.  This can be used to ensure that assets can be found and to record cleaning and maintenance of medical equipment.  During the year beacons were installed across the Antrim Area Hospital site and the relevant readers were received.  Significant work was undertaken to ensure appropriate information and IT governance were secured, including the completion of the appropriate  privacy impact assessment and a data access agreement as well as meeting cyber–security requirements.  A number of beds and mattresses have now been tagged and these will be used to demonstrate the system during 2019.  Regular meetings continue to be held with CHIC, Multitone and Healthcare Analytics in order to map future projects.

Encompass Programme

Encompass Programme

In Northern Ireland, the ENCOMPASS programme is developing a digital integrated care record for Northern Ireland. MOIC are contributing to the development of the medicines aspects of this system.  During the year a baseline audit of medication charts was conducted in all five Trusts and data analysis for the audit was carried out by MOIC.

Strategic Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance

Strategic Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance

MOIC staff have been contributing and will continue to contribute to a number of key policy and health infrastructure areas.  This has included contributing to the development of a Strategic Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance, which will be launched in 2019/20.  It is anticipated that MOIC will take the lead in the following areas:

  • Investigate novel methods of antibiotic use and its impact on healthcare acquired infections.
  • Ensure collaboration between the MOIC and industry and assessing the impact of various rapid diagnostics on infection management.