The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been rolling out single sign-on capability across its acute care services, with Beaumont Hospital, Holles Street, The Rotunda and the National Rehabilitation Hospital next in line for implementation.

HSE awarded a national framework contract to digital identity software specialist Imprivata and local ICT and managed services company PFH Technology Group last year to implement Imprivata’s OneSign enterprise access management solution across Ireland’s acute services.

The plan is to expand this to other areas within the HSE in the future.

The contract came following a trial of the solution at Tallaght University Hospital beginning in 2019, where it was piloted in three departments with differing needs: the acute medical assessment unit, age related health services, and the oncology day unit.

The pilot began with a single user ID and password and allows clinicians to access authorised clinical applications with the tap of their ID badge. The pilot showed that the solution could save up to 50 minutes per shift for clinical staff.

TUH then conducted a framework competition on behalf of the HSE, which was awarded to Imprivata and PFH. TUH won an Irish Healthcare Award for its work.

According to Imprivata, health staff will be able to instantly access clinical systems by entering their password once per shift and reauthenticating with just the tap of their ID badge, reducing the reliance on remembering complex passwords and associated stress for stretched clinicians, while improving security of sensitive patient data.

It has since been rolled out at Cork University Maternity Hospitals and HSE says upcoming sites include Beaumont Hospital and The Rotunda.