Clanwilliam Health today announced that it has partnered with the Irish Defence Forces to deliver an eHealth solution that is revolutionising how healthcare is delivered to Defence Forces Personnel.

The solution has been designed by Clanwilliam in collaboration with the Defence Forces Communications and Information Services Corps to meet the specific needs of the Defence Forces. It involves the rollout of Clanwilliam’s Socrates practice management software, which will keep a comprehensive electronic clinical record of care provided to members of the Defence Forces. The solution works seamlessly with the Defence Forces’ existing Personnel Management System, enabling it to capture and display medical data from multidisciplinary team members, and to generate organizational level reports.

“Protecting the health and wellbeing of all our soldiers, sailors and aircrew is a priority, and this system will allow us to electronically track all care that we provide at home, at sea and on overseas operations. The Defence Forces is required to maintain a medical capability that can be deployed with flexibility. Through the flexible, innovative and strategic use of this eHealth solution, the Defence Forces will manage the delivery of high quality, efficient and effective healthcare for all its members,” said Major General Kevin Cotter, Deputy Chief of Staff (Support), Irish Defence Forces.

Clanwilliam and the Defence Forces partnered together over the course of a year, with a dedicated development and project management team evolving the solution and ensuring its smooth rollout.

“Excitingly, this solution sees the extension of primary care technology outside of traditional community settings. Our Socrates practice management software, which is used by thousands of healthcare professionals every day, lies at its heart. In addition to providing the technology, we also delivered on the ground training to members of the Defence Forces, so that it is used to its full potential from day one,” said Eileen Byrne, Managing Director, Clanwilliam Health.

eHealth Ireland today welcomed the Irish Defence Forces’ embrace of the latest healthcare technologies.

“At eHealth Ireland, we are excited to see practice management technology which will be familiar to GPs around the country, entering into a whole new domain – in this case, the military. This is a bespoke solution which has been designed to meet the needs of a forward-looking organisation,” said Richard Corbridge, CIO of the HSE and CEO of eHealth Ireland.

He went on to add, “The way in which this solution has evolved and the relationship with the clinicians involved in taking it to this point is a great example of clinical engagement. eHealth Ireland will learn from this type of engagement and in 2017 will strive to replicate some of what has been delivered here.”