The Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) has extended its relationship with Agilsys to develop its data strategy.
Agilsys will establish the data and analytics capabilities of the trust, as well as develop a business intelligence strategy.
Data and analytics capabilities will be key parts of the digital strategy at MPFT.
“This work is a fundamental part of our vision for the organisation to be making informed decisions based on the data that we hold,” said Peter Newton, MPFT associate director of information and contracting. “It will improve patient care and ensure our services meet the needs of our populations.
“The Covid-19 pandemic, for example, disproportionately impacted certain demographics, meaning the need for visibility over data is even more imperative.
“Mental health is a great example. The stigma around the issue prevents people from talking openly so, if we can use the data that we have to understand where we’ve got gaps and proactively reach out to those people, and then find and shape a service that is relevant for them culturally, we will be right at the cutting edge of where trusts like us need to be,” Newton said in a statement.
Cloud plans
Agilsys will work with MPFT to create a roadmap to depict how the NHS trust moves its data into the cloud, the data environment that could be used by the trust, and the decision making involved.
MPFT plans to move its data and analytics capabilities to the Microsoft Power BI platform, which is used by a number of NHS trusts, including Milton Keynes University Hospital. The trust plans to have a single analytics tool for use by both its Business Intelligence team, but also across the entire NHS trust to improve the use of data in the way the trust works. Agilsys will provide both consulting and training to MPFT for the transition to Microsoft Power BI.
In adopting a data strategy, MPFT is aiming to become a Healthcare Information and Management Systems (HIMMS) level 7 organisation, often regarded as a gold standard for digital healthcare.
Agilsys has previously deployed enterprise cloud computing, including the use of Microsoft Office365, within the trust.
MPFT was formed in 2018 following a merger between South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership NHS Trust. There are 20 hospitals in the trust, serving a local population of 15 million.
Image from iStock, traitov
