Secondary Care

Moorfields takes first step towards paperless systems

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has commissioned Hicom, a leading provider of clinical information software, to develop and improve the functionality of OpenEyes, the specialist Electronic Medical Record (EMR) application for ophthalmology. The investment will enable Moorfields to move towards a fully paperless system that will provide clinicians real-time access to patient records across the trust’s 32 locations. The first phase of the implementation will be rolled-out in summer 2018.

Moorfields currently uses the OpenEyes application, which is a collaborative, open source project developed with contributions from a range of hospitals, institutions, companies and individuals. However, a more integrated solution was required to meet the anticipated needs of Moorfields as a world-leading ophthalmic clinical, research and educational organisation, and ensure that the organisation continues to deliver its high standards of patient care and experience.

Hicom will develop and build on OpenEyes, maintaining the open source solution for clinical ophthalmology functionality, and will provide core admin EMR functions from Hicom’s CareHub product suite. This will help Moorfields to implement a digital medical records solution in line with the NHS’ vision for integrated, paperless healthcare.

Elisa Steele, chief information officer at Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: We are excited to be starting this new EMR programme in partnership with Hicom, which will allow us to transform the provision of electronic medical records and our services across our network of sites. With OpenEyes at its centre, interfaced to Hicom’s CareHub, the solution will be fully integrated with our clinical services and provide support for research. The new ophthalmic record will be available at the point of care. This will provide a seamless and efficient service to our patients across all of our 32 sites.”

James Morgan, chair of the OpenEyes Foundation, said: “The selection of OpenEyes as the electronic patient record for Moorfields Eye Hospital is a very exciting step to support clinical care, teaching and research. OpenEyes is intuitive and easy to use, thereby supporting rather than hindering clinical care. Adopting an Open Source will enable a collaborative approach to the development of an outstanding electronic record for ophthalmology and help maintain Moorfields’ role as a global leader in ophthalmology.”