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IM1 Integration Partners

6B are IM1 integration partners who implement witness testing to develop and validate your integration with this important healthcare interface from NHS Digital.

Interface mechanism pairing integration is a leading interface from NHS Digital, enabling integration with leading clinical systems in primary care such as Emis, Vision and SystmOne via one set of APIs.

Interface mechanism pairing integration, or ‘IM1’, supports system standards and interoperability within local health and social organisations.

6B is an IM1 integration partner that consults with your staff and liaises with NHS Digital to ensure your mobile app, web app or healthcare software complies with the latest legislation and standards.

Interface mechanism Integration

Each supplier of foundation capabilities, which include Emis, Vision and SystmOne, must provide an interface mechanism that third party systems can use to integrate between core providing systems and your product or app.

6B helps develop products that integrate with IM1 for purposes including document management, appointments, clinical decision services and patient facing services.

Interface mechanisms that third party products can use to integrate your product and ensure its compliance with authority requirements can be developed with the guidance of 6B’s expert technical team.

IM1 integration development

6B’s IM1 integration partners will help you through every stage of the IM1 interoperability process. From IM1 pairing integration, we will assist you with the Supplier Conformance Assessment List (SCAL) and the Model Interface Licence (MIL).

6B also guides you through the unsupported test phase and the supported test phase, helping you with the Pairing and Integration Pack (PIP) and the Recommendation to Connect Notice (RTCN). Our technical support is available for witness testing and to help you with the IM1 supplier forum when your healthcare app or healthcare website goes live.

We implement your IM1 integration end to end, through development, witness testing, implementation, and launch, always adopting a collaborative approach with your team to ensure fast and easy integration with IM1.

Throughout the process we communicate with stakeholders in your team and liaise with NHS England, and either EMIS or SystmOne, to ensure your integration is moving forwards at speed. We will ensure you IM1 integration remains compliant with the latest legislation and standards, as well as being effective and economical. Ultimately our aim is to ensure that your IM1 integration enables your product to securely and safely access patient data to drive improved health outcomes for patients that benefit from your product.

IM1 Pairing Integration

IM1 pairing integration allows a digital health product to read patient information, extract information in bulk and enter data into the patient record in England. There are three existing suppliers that offer interfaces for systems to integrate with, which include Emis, Vision and SystmOne (although please note Vision has recently announced it is leaving England). 6B has worked with all three of these foundation solution providers and we can help to integrate your solution with SystmOne, EMIS, and Vision via IM1.

Assessment

Before pairing with IM1 can begin, the Supplier Conformance Assessment List (SCAL) must be filled in and submitted to the NHS England IM1 team. Your application is assessed for compatibility with the Emis, SystmOne or Vision APIs so it is important to include information about what your product will do. 6B helps you with that application, including clinical use cases for your product, utilising our technical knowledge to help you frame the SCAL so that as many of your functions can be approved of as possible.

The IM1 assurance process flow then requires a Model Interface Licence (MIL) to be completed so that you can access the unsupported test environment. At this stage, 6B will develop your integration in a unsupported development environment, using the Pairing and Integration Pack (PIP), and taking the guidance and documentation required for SystmOne, EMIS or Vision into full account.

Development of a website/app/crm

The remaining stages

Following development, your IM1 integration can be tested in a supported test environment and released to use in a ‘real world’ environment. Below we outline the remaining phases of IM1 integration through to go live:

Test Phases – During this stage, test evidence is agreed and 6B will undergo NHS England and supplier witness testing, with our technical experts driving the process and ensuring conformance with supplier and NHS England guidelines.

Assurance – When all parties are satisfied and testing is complete, full submission of the SCAL takes place and your provider supplier informs NHS England and the final SCAL is closed. NHS England then will give you a Recommendation to Connect Notice (RTCN) and the plan to connect to IM1 will be drawn out (usually within five working days).

The MIL is uplifted once assurance has been received and you can move forward to the live environment.

Live – Following assurance and go live, you are invited to the IM1 supplier forum, where you can continually engage with NHS England to report faults and incidents. 6B will remain available after go live, providing ongoing support and maintenance and providing any assistance required with any IM1 integration Request for Changes.

Why choose 6B for IM1 integration?

Navigating IM1 integration when developing a health tech product can be complex – 6B’s professional team are here to help.

  • We are an award winning in-house multi-disciplinary team of architects, developers, and consultants experienced in delivering multiple IM1 integrations.
  • We have experience integrating with EMIS, SystmOne, and Vision in different care settings, including primary care (GP Practices, PCNs, and ICBs), and secondary care (including community and mental health Trusts).
  • We are experienced in integrating with multiple EHR systems for startups, enterprise and public sector clients.
  • We have experience working with different IM1 APIs including EMIS Health Extraction IM, EMIS Transaction IM, EMIS PFS API, SystmOne Client Integration API, SystmOne Bulk API (SystmOne Strategic Reports), Systmone PFS API, SystmOne Generic HTML API, the SystmOne Telephony API, and more.
  • The development team at 6B have experience working across different healthcare settings, as well as working with private sector organisations, producing a range of complex and secure process-driven bespoke integrations, applications and software.
  • Using our unique modular development approach we ensure that each IM1 integration can be quickly scaled up and adapted without losing quality and where possible without requiring new development.

IM1 Integration Security and Compliance

Ensuring the security and compliance of patient data is a fundamental aspect of the IM1 integration process.

The NHS mandates strict adherence to data protection and privacy standards to safeguard sensitive patient information including GDPR, NHS DTAC, NHS DSPT, and relevant NHS Data Coordination Board (DCB) standards.

At 6B, we are certified with ISO 27001, NHS DSPT, and Cyber Essentials, and as such we prioritise security at every stage of the IM1 integration process. Our team ensures that your digital health product complies with all relevant NHS England standards, including data encryption, access controls, and regular security audits. By doing so, we help you maintain the highest levels of data protection and patient confidentiality, which are crucial for building trust and reliability in your IM1 integrated digital health solutions.

Benefits of IM1 Integration

Integrating your digital health product with primary care systems through IM1 offers numerous benefits for both healthcare providers and patients.

IM1 integration facilitates seamless access to patient records, enabling healthcare professionals to make informed decisions quickly and accurately. It also streamlines administrative processes, reducing the time and effort required for data entry and management.

For patients, IM1 integration means more coordinated and efficient care, as their health information is readily available to all relevant providers. Additionally, IM1 integration supports innovative digital health solutions that can enhance patient engagement, improve outcomes, and drive efficiencies across the healthcare system.

IM1 integration specialists

 

The IM1 integration solutions we design and develop enable the seamless exchange of data between different systems.

 

We’re keen to partner with digital health innovators to support IM1 integration projects – contact us if you are ready to get started.

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What is the IM1 Integration process offered by 6B?

At 6B, we provide an end-to-end IM1 integration service for digital health products, facilitating seamless integration with primary care systems like EMIS and SystmOne. Our process includes development, witness testing, implementation, and launch, ensuring compliance with the latest legislation and standards. We work closely with your team and liaise with NHS England and system providers to ensure a fast and efficient integration process.

How does 6B assist with the Supplier Conformance Assessment List (SCAL)?

6B supports you in completing and submitting the SCAL, a crucial step before pairing with IM1. We help frame your application’s clinical use cases and technical details to maximise the approval of your product’s functions. Our team leverages extensive experience and technical knowledge to ensure your application meets the compatibility requirements of EMIS, SystmOne, or Vision APIs.

What are the key stages in the IM1 integration process with 6B?

The key stages in the IM1 integration process with 6B include:

  1. Assessment: Assessing pre-requisites and feasibility of your requirements, completion and submission of SCAL.
  2. Development: Integration development in an unsupported development environment using the Pairing and Integration Pack (PIP).
  3. Testing: Conducting witness testing with NHS England and system providers.
  4. Assurance: Submitting the final SCAL for NHS England’s recommendation to connect.
  5. Live: Going live with continuous support and maintenance from 6B.

How does the IM1 pairing integration facilitate data exchange between systems?

IM1 pairing integration allows separate systems to read patient information, extract data in bulk, and enter data into the patient record system. This integration supports seamless communication between your digital health product and primary care systems like EMIS, SystmOne, and Vision. By leveraging the interface mechanisms provided by these systems, 6B ensures that your digital health solution can effectively access and utilise patient data to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Are there future plans to decommission the IM1 interface?

Currently, NHS England reports there are no plans to decommission the IM1 interface. While the long-term future of IM1 is being considered, and alternative options may emerge, there are no confirmed plans or timelines for its replacement. 6B continues to offer robust support for IM1 integration, ensuring your digital health solution remain compliant and effective. For any updates or more information, you can contact the IM1 team at NHS England: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/gp-it-futures-systems/im1-pairing-integration.

What types of data exchange does the IM1 interface mechanism support?

The IM1 interface mechanism supports three primary types of data exchange between systems: reading patient information, extracting information in bulk, and entering data into the clinical system. These functionalities enable seamless integration and data flow between your digital health product and principal clinical systems like EMIS, SystmOne, and Vision. 6B ensures that your integration process fully leverages these capabilities, adhering to IM1 standards and facilitating efficient data exchange to enhance healthcare delivery.

IM1 Integration Insights

Integrating with: the IM1 Bulk API

The IM1 Bulk API provides a robust solution for extracting and integrating large datasets from primary care EHR systems SystmOne and EMIS.

What is NHS IM1 – Interface Mechanism?

Interoperability has been something high on the agenda of the NHS for a while now. With digital technology playing a more prominent role in patient treatment and new models of care emerging, there’s an obvious need for the better sharing of information across different systems...

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