The Health Information and Quality Authority is pleased to announce that Professor Jane Grimson will be working with the Authority on the establishment of the Authority’s Health Information function. 

One of Ireland’s foremost experts in Health Informatics, Professor Grimson is Chair of the Centre for Health Informatics at Trinity College, which she helped to establish. She is also a former Vice-Provost of the College and is Chair of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology. She is a member of the Board of Science Foundation Ireland and until recently President of the Healthcare Informatics Society of Ireland. She has written over 100 papers and co-authored a textbook on Distributed Database Systems.

Healthcare is an information intensive industry generating enormous volumes of information every day in hospitals, GP surgeries, clinics, ambulance settings, residential and day centres and laboratories. It is fundamental that this information is supported by robust information systems and is used intelligently to improve the care for patients, the knowledge and learning of healthcare professionals, the planning of services and the culture within which we work. Ensuring that this information is governed appropriately is a key step in this process.

Much of our healthcare data continues to be processed manually in spite of decades of experience in the successful application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in other information intensive industries such as banking and insurance. The application of ICT in healthcare, now generally known as Health Informatics is no longer viewed as a peripheral issue but rather as a central means of improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

Dr. Tracey Cooper, Chief Executive, the Health Information and Quality Authority said; “Health Information is a critical part of our work and the work of every healthcare professional in the country. The use of modern Information Technology in clinical care and administrative functions will drive improvements in quality and safety of care for service users and will support clinicians in delivering care. Better and faster information is the key to better decision making and planning. I am delighted that Jane Grimson is now working with us on the establishment of this critical function”.

Professor Grimson said; “There are many reasons for the slow uptake of ICT in healthcare including lack of investment in the technology and a lack of people with the relevant skills. These issues are now being addressed as it becomes clear that health information is a fundamental requirement of a high reliability health care system. A robust health information environment will allow all stakeholders - patients and service users, health professionals, policy makers and the general public to make choices or decisions based on best available information.”

The Health Information Function within the Health Information and Quality Authority will help drive health information in Ireland’s health and social care services by:

• Developing the standards and framework for the collection, sharing and governance of information across the health and social services.
• Developing standards for interoperability of information systems.
• Identifying gaps and making recommendations for improvement in the collection and sharing of information.
• Collaborating with key stakeholders to co-drive the development and implementation of Information and Communications Technology across the health system.
• Evaluating, interpreting and publishing available information on our health and social care services and on population health.

The Health Information and Quality Authority will also collaborate with key stakeholders on the development and implementation of Electronic Health Records and a Unique Identifier for health and social care services in Ireland. This will mean faster referrals, fewer delays in ordering tests and reduced errors caused by handwriting.

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