{"id":532309,"date":"2021-07-26T15:18:07","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T14:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/?p=532309"},"modified":"2021-09-08T15:30:28","modified_gmt":"2021-09-08T14:30:28","slug":"fa2-lessons-from-healthcare-in-ireland-for-the-public-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/transform-en-ie\/na\/fa2-lessons-from-healthcare-in-ireland-for-the-public-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons from healthcare in Ireland for the Public Sector"},"content":{"rendered":"

Collaborating\u00a0with the ESRI to better understand the\u00a0potential impact of digital solutions in Irish healthcare.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

On\u00a023 June 2021<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and Microsoft Ireland released a new\u202f<\/span>research report<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u202fthat details the potential impact of digital solutions in healthcare, with a specific look at experiences in Ireland within the Health Service Executive (HSE).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps the key finding\u2014at least\u00a0of most\u00a0broad\u00a0relevance\u00a0for\u00a0the Public Sector\u2014is that a lack\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>sophistication in IT\u00a0systems\u00a0and\u00a0data infrastructure\u00a0were\u00a0an initial barrier to a rapid response to the challenges that the COVID-19\u00a0<\/span>emergency<\/span>\u00a0presented.\u00a0However,\u00a0<\/span>despite the challenges,\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0HSE\u00a0<\/span>moved to immediately<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>build th<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0required\u00a0tools.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And they built them quickly. Brand new systems were built on the concept of a single, Microsoft Azure public cloud data lake that could provide a single source of truth, with data coming from over 30 other data systems, including testing facilities, contract tracing centres, and critical care bed data. Collecting all relevant data made it easier to execute a strategy of data-driven, evidence-based decision-making. Microsoft Dynamics 365 was the platform <\/span>used\u00a0<\/span>for the rapid development of a system that enabled clinicians and contact tracers to engage with\u00a0COVID-19 cases. Power Apps was used to\u00a0allow laboratories to report daily testing numbers and case\u00a0numbers.\u00a0A\u00a0<\/span>r<\/span>eporting\u00a0<\/span>d<\/span>ashboard developed with Microsoft BI provided regular updates to allow better clinical decision-making. And a Healthcare Chatbot used Microsoft AI technology with input from clinicians helped ease the workload on the HSE and provided valuable information to citizens. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All of\u00a0these systems have three characteristics in common:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. They rely on data sources for their\u00a0operation;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. They are all built on the public cloud; and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. They were all built in a matter of days rather than the months that might be required for traditional on-premise systems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Although the ESRI report is focused on healthcare, the findings are relevant well beyond the health domain. Digital, and especially cloud-based technologies have become a crucial part of the delivery of citizen services for the Public Sector. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Cloud-based systems can be developed extremely rapidly, modified quickly, and scaled extensively. While it is laudable that they can be relied upon in the early stages of a crisis, it is incumbent upon the Public Sector to craft a future digital strategy that exploits all the benefits that public cloud-based systems have to offer. These include providing the best value for money, always having the most up-to-date technology available, and, of course, offering the most reliable and secure systems hosting for our country\u2019s most important and critical citizen services.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    As we hopefully get to the other side of this\u00a0very challenging year and a half, we should reflect upon the role that\u00a0technology has played as we\u00a0reactively responded\u00a0to its challenges and look to the role that technology should play proactively to\u00a0establish a future with\u00a0the best possible platforms for the delivery of\u00a0the\u00a0most effective and efficient\u00a0citizen services.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    (<\/span>Click here<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u202ffor a summary of the key findings\u00a0from the report.)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n