ICNet secures Irish contract

ICNet International has won a contract from the Irish Health Executive to install its healthcare associated infection surveillance and case management software at three hospitals.

ICNet will be installed at Mid-West Regional Hospital in Limerick, University College Hospital Galway and Kerry General Hospital in Tralee.

Managing director Katie Houghton said: “These three hospitals are the beginning of what we see as a key change in infection control in Ireland. We’re excited to be involved.”

ICNet is a web-based package that allows real time collaboration of patient and laboratory data to support infection control surveillance and case management. It can also provide the tools for mandatory reporting.

The company behind it was founded in England in 2000, but it has ambitious expansion plans. Its software is already in use in 1,000 hospitals in North America, Australasia, the Middle East and Western Europe.

The company says growth is being driven by government and clinician action on HAIs to improve patient safety and cut costs.

The Irish government launched national standards for the prevention and control of HAIs in May. Dr Nuala O’Connelly, consultant microbiologist at Mid West Regional Hospital Limerick, said ICNet would help it to meet them.

“We have adequate human resources in infection prevention and control, but our local paper records of patients with HAIs is archaic,” she said. “ICNet will be a great addition to our service.

“Our aim is to help create a safe environment for patient care and to deliver specialist care within that without any risk of HAIs.”

Link: ICNet