Bi-Directional Interface to Occupational Health Systems

Occupational Health Clearance functionality was made for English organisations available in ESR during 2009. An OH Steering Group, consisting of representatives from OH and HR Teams was also established during 2009. This group is now tasked with supporting the wider usage of ESR OH functionality and supporting the implementation of the bi-directional interface.

In 2010 the Steering Group identified that a large proportion of Occupational Health units use a third party OH system to manage the overall OH service. In order to link ESR into these systems and business processes the Steering Group identified that a bi-directional (two way) interface link to ESR had to be developed. The ESR development of the link has been funded by the OH Steering Group, and work will be completed in June 2011, when the link will become available from the ESR perspective..

The key benefit of this development is that it will allow OH information to transfer to and from ESR and other systems. Where information is captured on the OH system, it could be transferred into ESR in readiness for the IAT process - when an employee moves to another NHS organisation. Equally, it would allow IAT data transferred into ESR to be passed onto the OH System. The changes will support the original aim of developing OH Clearance functionality in ESR, in that it will reduce the number of duplicate immunisations and tests for staff transferring from one NHS organisation to another.

The implementation of the interface supports the Booreman recommendation that, ‘the ESR system should also be developed to interface effectively with staff health and well-being and occupational health systems to help improve care for staff, for example by helping to manage referrals for necessary interventions.’ [1]. The NHS ESR Central Team also believes the change is aligned with the recommendations likely to follow the NHS Employers and Department of Health Review of Occupational Health Services.

An outbound interface link from ESR to OH system already exists. However, the dataset for this interface is limited to person and post information. As part of the NHS ESR Central Team’s development, this dataset will be extended to include OH Immunisations and Checks and Health Assessment information. In addition, an inbound OH interface will be developed. The NHS ESR Central Team has been working closely with McKesson, the OH Steering Group and the key third party OH system providers to ensure the interface will meet the requirements of all stakeholders. The OH systems engaged in this process include:

• Safeguard
• Cohort
• Opas
• NOHS

As set out above, the ESR changes to support this development will be completed by the end of June 2011. Once the ESR delivery is completed, the NHS ESR Central Team plans to work closely with third party OH System providers to develop their part of the link. Timeframes for this work are yet to be confirmed with each of the Suppliers.

For further information on the development please contact Victoria Crowther on victoria.crowther@nhs.net.

[1] NHS Health and Well-Being Final Report - November 2009 (Section 4.10, Page 24)