ORION Health has opened its first office in Glasgow as it cited growing demand for its healthcare software.
The company, whose technology allows patient information to be pulled together into a single record, opened its doors at Pacific Quay before health minister Shona Robison yesterday.
The office underlines the growth enjoyed by the business, established in New Zealand in 1993, since it began trading in Scotland in 2004.
That growth has accelerated in the last 12 months, with the firm adding eight hires to its previously five-strong team of software specialists. Until now its staff have been home based.
Orion's clients include health boards NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Ayrshire & Arran and Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank.
Colin Henderson, managing director of Orion in Scotland, said the Orion software has the power to make a telling difference to patient care.
He said: "You get a single view of a patient - a doctor can make a more informed decision of what to do because they can see a full picture of a patient's background. There's less duplication of tests, they don't have to remember all of their details and keep repeating it."
Mr Henderson added that so-called population health management software can also be used to identify people who are at a higher risk of acute hospital admission, and ultimately put them on closer inspection programmes. He also said it could play a role as healthcare move toward patients having accessing to their data.
Mr Henderson added: "In the next 12 months, looking at the demand we have got, we are expecting our business by another 20 or 30 people."
Ms Robison said: "Orion Health provides important technological solutions to NHS Scotland. Our clinicians use them to access the information they need when and where they need it. This leads to more effective and safer decision making, reduces unnecessary tests and saves time."
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