In the end we selected Inter Access because its staff really possessed in-depth knowledge of the business issues.
The customer is always at the centre in ZorgPlus Systems, a provider of care-supporting information systems. "What makes our solutions strong is that they are developed for and by care", says Monique Barendsen, Sales Manager of ZorgPlus. "In so doing, they tie in perfectly with practice." In the development of the new electronic customer file ECD+ the company has already brought to bear its profound knowledge of care processes, which it has built up over the past ten years. To guarantee that ECD+ also meets the highest standards technologically, ZorgPlus has taken on Inter Access as ICT service provider.
In 2007, ZorgPlus celebrated its tenth anniversary and has thereby set itself apart as a stable element in the care sector. Within healthcare, the company is geared exclusively to the 'care' sector that comprises amongst other things nursing homes and sheltered accommodation. IBM software forms the basis of all ZorgPlus solutions.
In the past few years, the care sector has been the stage for numerous changes, including the introduction of the AWBZ-wide Care Registration (AZR). "We wanted to incorporate these and future changes with a scaleable and stable system", says Barendsen. "Therefore, the task is to thoroughly revamp our existing customer file on the basis of IBM Lotus Notes. Of great importance is that we also want to lead technologically with the new solution." To achieve the latter, ZorgPlus initially had five IBM partners in its sights. "Of these, as a result of their expertise, understanding and willingness to work together intensively, two remained," says Barendsen. "In the end we selected Inter Access because its staff really possessed in-depth knowledge of the business issues. So we were very quickly on the same track as them and clicked amazingly. Other partners raised the ICT hat too much."
ECD+ will eventually comprise three modules for customer administration, registration of care regimes and management information. In order to set the development project on the right track, ZorgPlus and InterAccess started together with a preliminary investigation lasting two months. Barendsen: "The greatest challenge was laying the foundations for a user-friendly solution having a stable architecture, and yet which offered sufficient flexibility to accommodate changes to rules and guidelines. The contribution of Inter Access on this level is essential." The preliminary investigation led to a clearer description of the project approach and the route to take, established in a vision document.
In the meantime, the first phase of the project is completed. This comprised making the care part of the solution suitable for the web, based on Domino. This part is thus easy to access via a browser and requires minimal management effort. Care and monitoring staff can simply set-up everything regarding the care of a customer: from complete care plans up to and including 24 hour reports. The following phases of the project combine the module for customer registration and that for management information. A larger architectural layer is needed, given that web services based on IBM WebSphere Portal form the starting point. In this, ZorgPlus also supports the interests of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). As well as the High Performance Workplace (HPW) and Adaptive Infrastructures, SOA is one of the three central topics for Inter Access.
ZorgPlus and Inter Access always work closely together with IBM to gear EDC+ to the latest technological developments. With this aim, the IBM Innovation Center was also used in the first phase of the project. "ZorgPlus, IBM and Inter Access make up a powerful trio, as could be seen during this phase," says Marcel Oosterveen, Project Manager at Inter Access. "The Innovation Center is up to speed with all current IBM product developments, ZorgPlus knows the care sector thoroughly and Inter Access can, like nobody else, make the translation from technology to practice. Due to the short lines and space for new ideas on every level, cooperation between these three parties is particularly constructive", adds Oosterveen.
Thanks to the cooperation between ZorgPlus, Inter Access and IBM, in the course of 2007 an advanced customer file will be created, as soon as the modules for client administration and management information will also be completed. The complete ECD+ meets all relevant legislation. "Additionally, the file has a logical ranking of menus and tasks, and is therefore very user-friendly and easily accessible," according to Barendsen. "Specific users only have access to that part which is relevant to them, which makes the system additionally well-organised. Moreover, what is unique is that the solution connects one hundred percent to the standards of the sector organisation ACTIZ and the AO/IC framework regulation." That interest from the care sector in ECD+ is great can be seen from the launch in January 2007. With the presence of around seventy interested parties in the IBM Forum, the future for ECD+ looks promising.