McKesson launches InterQual in UK

McKesson used the recent NHS Alliance annual conference to formally launch its InterQual “utilisation management and appropriateness of care solution" in the UK.

InterQual is aimed at providing primary care and acute trusts with support in deciding whether patients are receiving timely and appropriate care in the right place, and whether alternative and more cost effective arrangements could be made.

Charmaine McDonald, managing director of McKesson UK, said: “InterQual guidelines indicate to trusts when a patient’s admission into hospital, their length of stay in hospital and their intended discharge out of hospital are appropriate for their individual condition.

“They can also indicate when alternative step up or step down care settings may be more appropriate.” She added that this should reduce unnecessary bed occupancy and smooth patient journeys.

InterQual can be used in two modes. It can be used collaboratively between PCTs and acute trusts, to analyse referral and care procedures in real time. Or it can be used in snapshot audit mode, to look over previous episodes of care.

In October 2007, McKesson was appointed to the Framework for procuring External Support for Commissioners (FESC), a Department of Health framework to support its world class commissioning agenda. McKesson says that now InterQual has been localised for the UK, it will further be able to assist PCTs in their commissioning functions.

InterQual is an established McKesson solution that has been developed over 30 years. It is already in use in 6,000 sites across the US, Canada and Australia.

Link: McKesson UK