News
NHS Wales improves framework for software testing
27 May 2010
Informing Healthcare, the NHS information technology programme
in Wales has improved its software testing with a new framework
developed by Simpl.
Now in use by a six-strong team, the testing framework refines and
improves Informing Healthcare’s previous application testing procedures
and defines a consistent approach to in-house application testing across
the organisation. It also provides clear testing guidance and sets
expectations to external, third-party suppliers of applications.
The framework enhances quality assurance procedures, reduces application
development testing time and helps create applications that are right
first time for NHS staff across Wales. The framework,
aligned with Informing Healthcare’s process for ensuring patient safety,
also helps ensure that any IT system implemented improves rather than
jeopardises patient safety.
The testing
framework is a comprehensive set of documents that explain Informing
Healthcare’s testing strategy and provides guidance on how to test an
application, the appropriate test environment, and a range of testing
techniques. It also provides sample test plans and testing
templates for all stages of application development.
“Organisations should not get too carried away with the glamour of
application development and the benefits that new applications can bring
to healthcare organisations,” says Paul Malcolm, EMEA Regional Director,
Simpl. “It is important of course, but it is also essential that
only top quality applications reach the doctors and nurses on the front
line and that can only happen through testing in a consistent, proven
way.
With the inclusion of the testing strategy to the
framework, it helps stakeholders to understand the testing process
better than before. Firstly, in-house product managers and
external suppliers of applications are required to comply with the
testing procedures laid down in the framework. Second, the framework
helps the external suppliers understand why Informing Healthcare is
committed to such rigorous testing, which in short, is because clinical
safety is Informing Healthcare’s highest priority along with the ‘Fit
For Purpose’ factor of applications.”
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