When considering a PMR partner for your pharmacy, security and how they store data relating to your business should be among your top priorities.

Where is data being stored? What security is in place to protect data? Is data being held in locations outside the UK? What processes are in place in the event of a breach? These are all questions you should be putting to providers when making your decision.

Why is data security important?

• Patient Confidentiality: Pharmacies handle sensitive patient data such as medical history, prescription details, and personal information. It is important to ensure that this data is kept confidential and secure to protect patients’ privacy and prevent any breaches of data.
• Compliance with Regulations: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other UK data protection laws require pharmacies to protect the personal data they hold and process. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant penalties, fines, and reputational damage.
• Cybersecurity Risks: Pharmacies are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals who seek to steal sensitive data or disrupt pharmacy operations. It is important to implement robust cybersecurity measures to prevent data breaches and protect the pharmacy’s reputation.
• Business Continuity: A data breach or cybersecurity incident can disrupt pharmacy operations, impacting patient care and the pharmacy’s financial viability. It is important to have a data security strategy in place to minimize the impact of any security incidents and ensure business continuity.

What does RxWeb do to ensure data security?

When it comes to data and security, we provide complete peace of mind to customers and by extension, their patients. Here’s a summary of how we approach data security:

1. Cloud based technology – RxWeb is a cloud based system so it is inherently safer than solutions that are locally hosted. With RxWeb data is not stored on your computer and therefore is not susceptible to corruption of theft.
2. Realtime backups – RxWeb backs up every click and every keystroke automatically meaning you can always pick up where you left off with no risk of losing data.
3. Two data centres – We use two data centres located in separate locations in order to minimise any risk of data loss.
4. Safe and secure – Our data centres are ISO 2700 & 9001 certified.
5. UK data centres – We host your data in secure data centre’s located here in the UK so no data is being sent overseas.
6. Trusted partners – We have been long time partners of Microsoft using Azure servers.
7. NHS Approved – RxWeb works closely with the NHS to ensure the highest standards of security are met.

 

 

Clanwilliam, the Irish-headquartered global healthcare technology group, met with over 70 care home managers and healthcare professionals last week at its event dedicated to unlocking the potential of digital transformation in Northern Ireland’s care home sector.

Delivered in partnership with Microsoft and the IHCP (Independent Health and Care Providers), the event ‘The Paperless Care Home’ focused on the impact of technology in care home settings, from effective bed management and medication and care monitoring, to patient engagement and improved feedback and communication loops.

Clanwilliam’s Epic Care, a cloud-based care home management software, took centre stage for the morning as long-time Epic Care customer Eddy Kerr, Hutchinson Care Homes and Shane Williamson, Clanwilliam Business Development Manager, discussed the positive impact of electronic patient records in care home settings – covering everything from safety to accessibility.

Pauline Shepherd (IHCP) gave participants important context on the wider aged care market in Northern Ireland and the crucial role it continues to play in the healthcare system.

Event partners, Microsoft, demonstrated the role devices such as the Microsoft Surface are playing in healthcare settings to support more agile and effective care delivery – and how they can be utilised specifically in aged care settings in conjunction with the Epic Care system.

Attendees also heard from ResHub, a resident experience platform, as they discussed the value that digital technologies can add for residents and their families; and patient feedback software, Doctify, showed the power of reviews and feedback in healthcare settings.

Eileen Byrne, Managing Director at Clanwilliam said: “We are delighted to have been able to host this invaluable event alongside Microsoft and the IHCP, providing crucial information and an opportunity to share ideas for the care home sector in Northern Ireland.”

“With over 25 years in the industry, we know what a central role technology can play in supporting better, safer, and more effective patient care across the healthcare market.

“There is a great deal of digital transformation opportunity within care homes to continue to support the excellent care they deliver, and we’re delighted to help provide platforms for this conversation.”

To find out more about Epic Care, visit www.epicsolutions.ie/epiccare/

Following a thorough accreditation process the National General Practice Information Technology (GPIT) Group has confirmed that Clanwilliam’s three GP systems – Socrates, Helix Practice Manager (HPM) and Health One – have again been accredited as part of their 2022 accreditation process.

The GPIT Group comprises representatives from the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health. The aim of the GPIT Group is to promote the eHealth agenda in Ireland, in particular electronic communications and interoperability between GP and health service information systems. Certification of general practice software systems previously occurred in 1999, 2003, 2008, 2014 and 2018 and Clanwilliam’s systems have been certified in each of these previous reviews.

The GPIT run the certification process in order to:
• ensures that practice management systems support the requirements of general practice.
• help to coordinate the development of general practice systems with developments in health service information systems.
• promote interoperability between general practice systems and HSE systems.
• provide a roadmap for further development of the electronic health record.

The certification process involved a vendor self-assessment of their product and services against the certification test plan. Representatives of the GPIT then tested each system to ensure conformance with their requirements.

Speaking about the accreditation, Clanwilliam Health Managing Director, Eileen Byrne said: “The GPIT Accreditation is incredibly important to both our systems and our business. It effectively acts as a seal of approval from our key stakeholders and shows the value that Socrates, HPM and Health One add to our customers on a daily basis. As a business, we take pride in the ongoing development of our systems to ensure that they continue to provide the strongest digital foundation for our users while at the same time facilitating interoperability between GP and HSE systems.

Since the last accreditation round in 2018 our systems have evolved and been augmented to assist GPs with key HSE initiatives such as Chronic Disease Management (CDM), the Individual Health Identifier (IHI), Covid Vaccines, e-referrals, e-prescriptions and much more. We are very excited about what the future holds and are focussed on continuing to add value-adding functionality to our systems for both users and healthcare industry stakeholders alike.”