Sussex Pathology Network to Deploy Clinisys Laboratory Information System

ClinisysThe Sussex Pathology Network has chosen Clinisys for a laboratory information system (LIMS) that will help its labs to collaborate, building on the supportive relationship that developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A single, hosted instance of WinPath Enterprise will replace the existing four live LIMS systems in use at the three trusts and seven laboratories within the network, of which two are at the end of their life.

The replacement of these LIMS systems is crucial to ensure that the labs maintain their capability to deliver a comprehensive range of pathology services, supporting vital aspects such as diagnosis and treatment decisions, blood transfusion, and trauma care.

An implementation team will work alongside laboratory and IT staff to make sure the new LIMS also supports consistent, efficient, and high-quality processes - so clinicians and patients receive the same service, wherever they work or live.

Emily Gaskell, programme director, pathology, at NHS Sussex, said: "During the Covid-19 pandemic, our pathology laboratories worked more closely together, and that encouraged us to move forward and adopt the NHS England model for pathology networks.

"However, because most of the labs are spread along a long, thin, coastal patch, with very poor road communications, a hub and spoke model for all work is impractical.

"Instead, we want to focus on creating a consistent pathology service, so it doesn't matter whether you get a test in Rye or in Chichester; you will get the same test, and the same quality of results, in the same appropriate timeframe.

"To do that, one LIMS is essential. We see Clinisys WinPath as a key enabler for the network, and critical to improving services for people in Sussex."

The Sussex Pathology Network serves three trusts: East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, and Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The two acute trusts; East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust serve a population of around 2.3 million people, while Queen Victoria Hospital provides specialist burns and plastic surgery to a much larger population covering Sussex, Kent, Surrey and parts of South London.

Across the three trusts more than 7 million tests are carried out each year, and demand is growing by 5% per year. WinPath Enterprise will provide a stable, safe and secure platform for these essential services.

It will also enable better communications so laboratories can share workload and expertise, and support remote working. And, in time, it will enable the introduction of automation and AI technologies, so highly trained pathologists can focus on urgent and complex cases, where their expertise is most needed.

Emily Gaskell said: "This is not the only project that the network has on. We also need to deliver our business-as-usual service, invest in our operating model and workforce, and secure new equipment and communications.

"But we are very keen to progress. The new LIMS is an important first step towards our vision for all clinicians, patients and residents across Sussex to have access to a seamless pathology service, with the right test in the right place at the right time - every time."

Implementation is at an early stage, but the aim is to roll-out the new LIMS site by site, and to have the first two sites live by December next year.

Felice Di Rienzo, professional services director at Clinisys said: "We are delighted to be working with the Sussex Pathology Service on the deployment of this new LIMS. The project team want to work at pace, and we are absolutely up for that.

"We look forward to standing alongside the implementation team and the network's clinicians as they roll-out Clinisys WinPath as a stable, secure and safe platform for pathology services today and in the future."

About Clinisys

Clinisys enables healthier and safer communities as a global provider of intelligent diagnostic informatics solutions and expertise that redefine the modern laboratory across healthcare, life sciences, public health and safety. Millions of laboratory results and data insights are generated every day using Clinisys' platform and cloud-based solutions in over 3,000 laboratories across 34 countries.

Most Popular Now

AI Catches One-Third of Interval Breast …

An AI algorithm for breast cancer screening has potential to enhance the performance of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), reducing interval cancers by up to one-third, according to a study published...

Great plan: Now We need to Get Real abou…

The government's big plan for the 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS laid out a big role for delivery. However, the Highland Marketing advisory board felt the missing implementation...

Free AI Tools can Help Doctors Read Medi…

A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus shows that free, open-source artificial intelligence (AI) tools can help doctors report medical scans just as well as more...

Researchers Create 'Virtual Scienti…

There may be a new artificial intelligence-driven tool to turbocharge scientific discovery: virtual labs. Modeled after a well-established Stanford School of Medicine research group, the virtual lab is complete with an...

From WebMD to AI Chatbots: How Innovatio…

A new research article published in the Journal of Participatory Medicine unveils how successive waves of digital technology innovation have empowered patients, fostering a more collaborative and responsive health care...

Autonomous AI Agents in Healthcare

The use of large language models (LLMs) and other forms of generative AI (GenAI) in healthcare has surged in recent years, and many of these technologies are already applied in...

Can Amazon Alexa or Google Home Help Det…

Computer scientists at the University of Rochester have developed an AI-powered, speech-based screening tool that can help people assess whether they are showing signs of Parkinson’s disease, the fastest growing...

New AI Tool Accelerates mRNA-Based Treat…

A new artificial intelligence (AI) model can improve the process of drug and vaccine discovery by predicting how efficiently specific mRNA sequences will produce proteins, both generally and in various...

AI also Assesses Dutch Mammograms Better…

AI is detecting tumors more often and earlier in the Dutch breast cancer screening program. Those tumors can then be treated at an earlier stage. This has been demonstrated by...

RSNA AI Challenge Models can Independent…

Algorithms submitted for an AI Challenge hosted by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) have shown excellent performance for detecting breast cancers on mammography images, increasing screening sensitivity while...

AI could Help Emergency Rooms Predict Ad…

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help emergency department (ED) teams better anticipate which patients will need hospital admission, hours earlier than is currently possible, according to a multi-hospital study by the...

Head-to-Head Against AI, Pharmacy Studen…

Students pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree routinely take - and pass - rigorous exams to prove competency in several areas. Can ChatGPT accurately answer the same questions? A new...