Healthcode appoints first clinical safety officer

Healthcode has appointed Dr Patrick Lester as its first clinical safety officer (CSO) to oversee clinical risk management of its products, including the company’s new prescribing solution.

Lester (pictured) who is head of clinical safety at ETHOS, has experience in healthcare IT, patient safety and radiography. He was awarded a PhD in bioinformatics in 2004 and qualified as a CSO in 2007. In his new role with Healthcode he will be responsible for clinical risk management planning, reviewing safety documentation and recommending whether systems are safe and robust.

The NHS requires IT providers it works with to comply with the DCB0129 clinical risk management standard. Healthcode has engaged ETHOS, a specialist in digital health safety compliance, to support its efforts to meet this requirement.

Healthcode, best known for invoicing and connectivity tools in private healthcare, has expanded its offer with ePractice, a practice management system that combines back-office and clinical functions. Features include care pathway management and prescribing. The prescribing tool already integrates with the NHS dm+d and includes error detection functions, working with delivery partner Pharmacy2U, but Healthcode said it intends to go further by embedding national safety standards.

Jenny Murray, director of product strategy and delivery at Healthcode, said: ‘We’re now using our smart tech to develop more efficient and intuitive clinical services but we won’t compromise on patient safety. Nominating someone with Patrick’s credentials and integrity to be our clinical safety officer shows our commitment to meeting the highest standards in this area in the best interests of our customers and their patients.’

Lester said: ‘As head of clinical safety at ETHOS I’m delighted that we’re joining Healthcode on this important journey, which will give customers the reassurance that their healthcare technology is backed by rigorous and consistent clinical safety protocols and governance.’