ACS Partnership

Reliability in crisis, structure in chaos - delivering expertise and peace of mind

Are you prepared to handle a pandemic?

According to the recent report by the US House Committee on Homeland Security, the US is "not prepared as a Nation to fully withstand the impact of such a devastating widespread biological event" (1).

The new partnership between ACS and Clinical Solutions can help. You need the right people, the right infrastructure and the right technology to detect, contain, communicate, manage and report during a pandemic. Our unique offering provides for the early detection and containment of an epidemic or pandemic and for the effective means of managing medical resources following an outbreak of disease, or after a large-scale emergency. It provides the public with access to immediate clinical expertise and facilitates the collection and analysis of vital information empowering decision makers to help contain the situation and minimise risk.

From software and systems to clinical programme management and call centre capabilities, we offer a fully managed, end-to-end service - bringing control to chaos for patients, providers, healthcare professionals and administrators.

The partnership software

Clinical Solutions' IntefleCS® Health Watch has been designed for the early detection and effective management of an epidemic or pandemic outbreak of infectious disease. The web-based application allows the clinician to quickly determine the potential start of an infectious disease and direct the patient to take the most appropriate action. IntefleCS® Health Watch ensures suitable access to health resources for both the patient and health worker at the time of a pandemic, such as Avian Influenza outbreaks or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The partnership infrastructure

With nearly 30,000 Customer Service Representatives (CSR's) and 118 call centres that offer support in 20 different languages, ACS provides an instant pool of operators that can help assess symptoms, provide information and direct citizens to the most appropriate level of care.

ACS clinical call centres already provide patients unparalleled access to registered nurses, licensed pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and customer service agents. Recognised by the Call Centre Industry Advisory Council as a PaceSetter, ACS operates call centres that answer approximately 30 million calls annually from patients, providers and other stakeholders.

The benefits

Put simply the benefits our partnership brings not only equate to potential financial savings by utilising the appropriate health resources but more importantly a reduction in the amount of population infected and the expected pandemic cycle. We are able to identify early indicators of pandemic situation and contain reducing the cross contamination that can occur in face to face assessment centres. This reduces the extent of infections and fatalities, increases the number of people that can be assessed quickly and conveniently whilst allowing clinical/healthcare staff to be deployed where needed as resources become scarce.

By having access to accurate and real-time information and a mechanism in place to communicate, public/employee anxiety and panic is reduced as they know that they are more likely to be assessed quickly. Finally through effective and efficient management our offering is able to offer a much more effective allocation of antiviral and prophylactics reducing the need for 100% stockpiling.

No one knows when and where the next pandemic will occur, but one thing you can be is fully prepared.

References
(1) US House Committee on Homeland Security report - Getting Beyond Getting Ready for a Pandemic - Overview, Executive Summary, P2