PracticeLink™ Infrastructure Review
Assessing the security, stability, scalability and compliance of NHS ICT networks in preparation for a PracticeLink deployment
Background
As healthcare organisations, such as trusts, PCTs or GP surgeries implement new IT systems and components to their infrastructure, the overall architecture becomes increasingly fragmented and comprises different systems to meet the needs of different users. Unless the infrastructure is carefully monitored and maintained, it can become inefficient, costly and fail to comply with DoH requirements.
With the changes to public sector, and especially the restructuring of community health from the current structure of PCTs to GP Commissioning Consortia, it is prudent for IM&T managers to take stock of the current infrastructure and how this will benefit GPs, their practice staff, and ultimately shape the care of patients.
GPs will need to work flexibly to cater for the demands of patient-centred care, increasing the amount of field-based visits to patients, while still maintaining communication with their own and other GP practices, hospitals and other health bodies.
Therefore, it's important for ICT managers to regularly take a step back and evaluate the entire infrastructure to ensure it is meeting the needs of the organisation, its stakeholders, and compliance bodies, such as the Department of Health.
Overview
Our PracticeLink Infrastructure Review Service is a rapid, thorough and cost-effective management audit and gap analysis of a trust’s ICT infrastructure against best-practice and information governance compliance requirements.
For NHS Trusts, we utilise the NHS Infrastructure Maturity Model (NIMM) as a best-practice tool, against which a trust can gauge itself and help it become smarter buyers of IT infrastructure solutions.
Our PracticeLink Infrastructure Review will check that a trust network is compliant with the latest best practice and governance, whilst benchmarking it against NIMM and the IG Toolkit.
It will establish whether the network is secure for PID, look for potential improvements for flexible and mobile working and help determine areas for possible cost savings.
In addition to this, the PracticeLink Infrastructure Review can be utilised as a benchmarking exercise to determine readiness for one of Hytec’s solutions, such as PracticeLink™, Integral Xchange™, Integral mForms® or a secure network connection, such as N3 or GCSx.
The Infrastructure Review is carried out by a member of Hytec’s Technical Team, and draws on experience right across our organisation to include areas such as Information Governance and Technical Architecture.
Functionality
The review covers key areas such as:
- network architecture and design
- Community Of Interest Networks (COINs) and connectivity with GP practices and third-party suppliers
- information security including perimeter protection, firewalls and anti-virus
- user authentication, remote access and role-based access to PCT resources
- protection of sensitive data (Patient Identifiable Data in the NHS)
- PCT remote support and management of GP practice communities
- compliance with IG Toolkit requirements
- network vulnerabilities and infrastructure weaknesses
- process weaknesses and skills gaps
- cost saving and productivity opportunities
The review will be led by a Principal Consultant within our Professional Services team. The delivery team includes technical consultants and specialists in network design and management, DoH and CfH policies, HMG Information Security and ISO27001 standards.
We will scope the service in advance, and agree the organisational units, core systems, networks, applications, information governance systems and security architectures to be reviewed. We will present the findings and recommendations and document them in a formal report.
Benefits
Our Infrastructure Review will:
- check that an organisation’s network is compliant with current legislation and governance
- establish whether the network is secure enough to share patient identifiable data
- understand how to improve the network to support flexible working
- determine areas for potential cost saving
- help an organisation justify and prioritise their infrastructure investment priorities
Hytec’s Technical Team will undertake a thorough audit of your existing infrastructure; explain where there are loopholes, where efficiency savings could be reached and where there may be shortfalls in compliance requirements.
If you would like more information on any of the above services click here or call our helpful sales team on 01865 887 428