Qatar's Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Cerner have signed an agreement to digitise the entire public health system of of the country.

The accord covers all HMC hospitals and primary health care centres (PHCs), said a statement.

Acting as a prime contractor and CIS integrator, Cerner will deliver cutting edge health IT solutions from Cerner and third party suppliers that will bring the HMC Hospital Information Management into the 21st century. 

This is Cerner’s first project in the region to digitise an entire country’s public health system on a single computing platform, it said.

Using the Cerner Millennium architecture, a unified health IT computing platform, will enable Qatari health professionals to elevate safety, quality and efficiency. The system will provide evidence-based best practices and improve the clinical care processes. In addition, Cerner solutions will provide the foundation for medical research initiatives related to population health management, including non-communicable diseases and other chronic health conditions.

Cerner will also work with HMC to lay the foundation for a national health framework which will allow for a personal health record for every citizen in Qatar. Using Cerner solutions, HMC will help individuals better connect with their care team and engage in their health, said the statement.

Individuals will be able to schedule appointments, send messages to their doctor and create a personal health record to better manage their health. Moreover, HMC will have the ability to capture and research health data across medical encounters and medical facilities providing vast repositories for ongoing research and disease management for the Supreme Council of Health.

“Access to the latest evidence based clinical information will ensure best clinical guidelines and healthcare practices and hence best care for patients. With the Clinical Information System to be implemented soon, this technology will be at the clinician’s fingertips for health staff within Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centers, allowing them to make informed decisions about their patients,” said Dr. Abdulwahab Al Musleh, Deputy Chief of Medical, Academic and Research affairs for Clinical Information Systems at HMC.

Mr Abdulla Al Emadi, HMC Executive Director of Health Information Systems, added: “The creation of this partnership with Cerner is a key stepping stone in our efforts to achieve excellence through the implementation of technology.”

Cerner’s electronic health record (EHR) will be the foundation of the health technology implementation. Over a period of five years, HMC Hospitals and PHC’s will integrate approximately 100 Cerner solutions and 11 third party solutions, encompassing clinical, technical, operations, and administrative areas, to support HMC in achieving clinical and service excellence.

'Strong regional partnerships and supporting government initiatives to develop the health care industry are key pillars of Cerner’s growth strategies in the region,” said Greg White, vice president and managing director, Cerner Middle East and Africa. “Through a seamless electronic health record system, HMC will have the opportunity to enhance the safety, quality and efficiency of their facilities. We are delighted to support their transformation into one of the leading academic health systems in the world.” – TradeArabia News Service