HomeNewsUniversity Hospital Kerry rolls out national orthopaedic register

University Hospital Kerry rolls out national orthopaedic register

University Hospital Kerry (UHK), which is part of the South/South West Hospital Group, has become the eighth hospital in Ireland to roll out the Irish National Orthopaedic Register (INOR). The aim of this initiative is to improve and maintain the quality of care for individuals receiving joint replacement surgery in Ireland.

From L to R standing :  Dr Niamh Feely Clinical Director, Fearghal Grimes General Manager, Ms Eimear Conroy Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr John Rice Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mareeda de Róiste Business Lead, Ann Mc Namara Clerical Officer, Suzanne Rowley INOR Manager, Tom Bannon Office of CIO, Mr Tony Higgins Orthopaedic Surgeon Seated from L to R:  Nora Moore Pre-Op Assessment, Sinéad Healy Orthopaedic CNS, Majella O’Callaghan Pre-Op Assessment
From L to R standing : Dr Niamh Feely Clinical Director, Fearghal Grimes General Manager, Ms Eimear Conroy Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr John Rice Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mareeda de Róiste Business Lead, Ann Mc Namara Clerical Officer, Suzanne Rowley INOR Manager, Tom Bannon Office of CIO, Mr Tony Higgins Orthopaedic Surgeon
Seated from L to R: Nora Moore Pre-Op Assessment, Sinéad Healy Orthopaedic CNS, Majella O’Callaghan Pre-Op Assessment

INOR is a national electronic register of patients receiving joint replacement surgery in Ireland. Elective orthopaedic hip and knee replacement records will now be available nationally in a central register for the first time. The register will collate information from UHK and will support early detection of implant performance and improve the efficiency of the recall and review process.

Following patient consent, the INOR will collect information electronically at pre-operative, surgical and post-operative assessment stages, from patients who are undergoing joint replacement surgery. This will in turn support early detection of implant performance and improve patient experience with their implant over a longer time.

INOR is a secure, web-based, real-time system that went live in May 2016 and is currently rolling out nationally. Its aim is to improve and maintain the quality of care for individuals receiving joint replacement surgery in Ireland. The register will collate information from all hospitals in Ireland undertaking joint replacement surgery and will support early detection of implant performance and improve the efficiency of the recall and review process.

It is managed by the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA), in conjunction with the HSE Office of the Chief Information Officer and clinically supported by Irish Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon (IITOS). Roll-out of INOR to the remaining public elective orthopaedic surgery sites is underway and will be completed by the mid-2020.