Fiona Booth, the former Chief Executive of the Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations (AIHO) has joined Healthcode to help transform the use of technology within independent hospitals in the interests of the private health sector and patients.
As Head of Provider Programmes and Strategy, Fiona’s initial focus will be to oversee the launch and development of The Private Practice Register (The PPR), for use in private hospitals. Alongside Healthcode Managing Director, Peter Connor, Fiona will host a launch event for The PPR at BMA House on Thursday 6 September between 6 and 9.30pm. She will then be actively involved in consulting with hospital groups and other industry representatives to ensure that the programme meets their needs.
As specialists in online technology and electronic billing, Healthcode conceived and built The PPR as a definitive practitioner register for the private healthcare sector, enhancing efficiency and cooperation between PMIs, providers and individual practitioners. There are over 10,000 profiles on the secure system and it is already being used by the leading PMIs to fast-track their recognition process. Independent specialists can use their profile to build and maintain their private practice by uploading information which highlights their clinical expertise.
Now The PPR is being rolled out to hospitals and hospital groups who will have the ability to search, view and add specialists with practising privileges at a treatment site. Future functionality will include the ability to process and administer practising privileges, procedure credentialing and recording adverse incidents and Fiona will work closely with these organisations to determine their priorities.
Fiona Booth said: “I’m delighted to be joining Healthcode at a defining moment for the company. The PPR is an exciting and significant initiative for everyone in the private healthcare sector at a time when we need to show that we are learning lessons from the Paterson scandal. A National Inquiry headed by the Bishop of Norwich is due to report next summer but it is likely to consider the systems in place for validating and monitoring hospital staff. The PPR directly addresses the challenge of governance and demonstrates how seriously the sector takes patient safety.”
Peter Connor added: “Fiona’s appointment is a coup for Healthcode as she brings unrivalled knowledge of the independent healthcare sector and is a well-known and respected figure within the industry following her work at the trade association, AIHO. This means she is perfectly placed to collaborate with hospital groups, PMIs, industry leaders and consultants to ensure Healthcode’s provider programme fulfils its potential as a game-changer for the industry.”