National Clinical Surveillance Infection Control System (NCSI) National Project Enhances Patient Safety Through Infection Surveillance System
Since 2021 HSE Acute and Community services, Technology and Transformation and AMRIC have been working together to introduce a National Clinical Surveillance IT System for Infection and Prevention Control (IPC). This system will be available across all Acute and Community services and will help to support integrated care of patients on their journey between Acute and Community based services.
It is estimated that up to 50% of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are preventable. The introduction of this software will enhance surveillance capabilities and play a vital role in reducing the incidence of these infections.
The system procured is a Baxter product called ICNET and it will be available across all Access and Integration acute and community services including Public Health. This is a multi-million euro project which will deliver significant benefits to patients, service users and staff.
The initial focus of this project was on resourcing a national team and providing each area with a dedicated resource for the project and the completion of an EU tendering process. Following this the national infrastructure for the system was built in the National Data Centre, by the National Project and Tech Hosting teams in Technology and Transformation. These regional instances are aligned to our Regional Health Areas.
Baxter Healthcare ICNET, is already in the HSE Mid-West region and Tallaght University Hospital as well as HSE West - Galway, Mayo and Roscommon hospitals with the roll out continuing to Sligo, Letterkenny and Portiuncula hospitals in the coming months.
Phase one of the national project for introduction of ICNET has commenced in the South West with University Hospital Kerry about to go live in the coming weeks. This follows an extensive piece of work by a subcommittee agreeing a regional approach to the patient alerts and work ups. Phase one also includes HSE Dublin and South East Region.
Communications and Events
Over the last year a number of key communications events were delivered. Two face to face workshops with the vendor with over 150 attendees. These day long workshops focused on providing information for staff on the ICNET surveillance software and how it is deployed. Participants had the opportunity to have individual demonstrations and opportunities to speak with product specialists in break out areas. Later in the year the vendor hosted an ICNET Ireland existing customer workshop. This workshop provided participants with an opportunity to network with colleagues across Access and Integration acute, community and public health who currently use this system in their work. There were also interactive activities which focused on how the various different features of the system can be adapted locally to support different workflows.
Webinar – Project Update and Case Study
On 12th November 2024 a project update and case study on the NCSICS project was delivered by the National Project Team and Sinead Conroy, CNM Informatics, HSE Mid West – if you would like to listen to this recording it is available here.
Webinar – Utilising technology to deliver safer care in Infection Prevention and Control
On May 29th the AMRIC nursing team delivered a webinar on ‘Utilising technology to deliver safer care in infection prevention and control’ which allowed Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) and University Hospital Limerick (UHL) to showcase how they use ICNET.
If you would like to listen to this recording it is available here. This webinar had an update on the national project, a comprehensive overview of the day to day use of ICNET by the IPC team. It also provided an update on the collaboration between the informatics CNM2 who administers the system in the MidWest and their IV Care Team (IVCT) on how they have used ICNET to assist the IVCT daily work, reporting and management of phlebitis cases (inflammation of the vein). Phlebitis is a sign of an adverse effect from the IV device. Timely and effective management of phlebitis cases leads to better patient outcomes and fewer associated bloodstream infections.
Further information
If you would like more information or would like to speak to someone working on this project, please contact: