By Business & Finance 
By John Stobie, director of Sales, Clanwilliam Group
All our lives have been changed by technology – many people now would find it unthinkable not to be able to search for the answer to a query on their smartphone or to have a video call with family members around the world.
In the world of business, whole industries from manufacturing to financial services have been revolutionised by computers. There is seemingly no limit to the efficiencies technological advancements will bring about.
At the same time – for all this talk of progress – there is at least one area which continues to pose a problem for societies around the world: healthcare.
There is no question that the way healthcare is delivered has been impacted by technology, and yet many of its processes have not seen the full benefit that IT can bring.
Take the process by which people fill prescriptions from their GP in Ireland – this is a process which has remained unchanged for countless decades. Time is wasted and inaccuracies abound under the current regime whereby the pharmacy decodes the GP’s handwriting and the patient waits while the prescription is filled.
To solve this problem, Clanwilliam recently introduced eScript, a new prescription e-notification service which is set to revolutionise how prescriptions are filled.
eScript is a notification service that safely sends a secure notification of the prescription details from the GP’s computer to the patient’s chosen pharmacy. While it does not replace the traditional signed paper prescription, it means that the pharmacy can start preparing the prescription before the patient gets there. For patients that means less waiting time, while pharmacists are able to enjoy a quicker dispensing process. Meanwhile, automatic electronic storing of prescriptions will help pharmacists care for their patients over time.
EHEALTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The medical prescription is just one area where we see the potential for technology to bring about a better situation for patients, pharmacies and healthcare practitioners.
We are not alone in seeing this possibility – a community of ehealth-focused start-ups has developed in this country, each working on its own aspect of the future.
eHealth Ireland’s Knowledge and Information Plan points to ‘compelling examples of success in the health system from deploying new technology’, including ‘the health information exchange (for example, HealthLink), successful pilot on eReferrals, national implementation of PACS solution known as NIMIS, and out-of hours General Practitioner support through the use of integrated systems’.
What are the challenges faced by entrepreneurs entering into this field? For any start-up, access to finance can be an issue. Another problem high potential new ehealth businesses have told us they experience is a lack of access to expertise. Plenty of people will offer advice, but the really worthwhile knowledge is held by those who have scaled businesses internationally and overcome a wide range of hurdles in the process.
There is no question that the way healthcare is delivered has been impacted by technology, and yet many of its processes have not seen the full benefit that IT can bring
For its part, Clanwilliam Group is interested in partnering with and acquiring promising young companies. Backed by Eli Global with its team of over 2,000 employees that are spread across three continents, we bring investable funds to the table combined with expertise on every topic relevant to a growing young business.
We think other players who buy a business and then impose their own culture on it are making a mistake. We are also not interested in flipping the business in a quick resale.
Rather, our strategy is all about backing the entrepreneur and their business and helping it to grow over time. The Group is there to drive strategy and supply any advice along the way, but the core passion and vision comes from the business team in place. Our ideal hold time is forever and we won’t acquire a company unless we think it will be a fit with other businesses in the Group.
HEALTHY DEMAND
What does the future hold? One thing we know for sure is that people are living longer in Ireland and we can expect a live expectancy above the EU average. Mortality from key causes including cancer is decreasing as treatments improve. That means that the healthcare journey each of us faces is getting longer, and through technology, hopefully more seamless.
There is a market there for inventors, for problem solvers, for people who see a healthcare process and determine how it could be simplified and made better through technology.
At Clanwilliam, we are ambitious for the future of the Irish ehealth sector and, indeed, are big believers in what technology can achieve in the healthcare setting around the world.
As recently appointed Director of Sales, I’ll be working to deliver value to existing and new customers by partnering with high potential start-ups, and look forward to having discussions with entrepreneurs who share our vision for the bright future of ehealth.
About the blogger John, who was previously channel sales director at Dell Ireland, brings over two decades of enterprise and channel sales experience to the role at Clanwilliam Group, helping to deliver a broad range of practice management and primary care solutions to GPs and pharmacies in Ireland, the UK and increasingly across Europe. Clanwilliam Group includes the Professional Medical Management Services, Socrates Healthcare Informatics and Helix Health businesses, and develops, sells and integrates a range of technology solutions to the GP, private consultant and pharmacy communities such as: Socrates; Helix Health One; DGL Practice Manager; Helix Practice Manager; Rx Web; QicScript; and CliniScript. Click here to view John’s LinkedIn account.
John Stobie is director of Sales at Clanwilliam Group, a leading healthcare, technology and services company headquartered in Dublin.
