iSOFT

iSOFT is an international supplier of software applications for the healthcare sector. Its products are used by an estimated 13,000 organisations in 40 countries for managing patient information and healthcare services. Its headquarters was in Sydney, Australia prior to its acquisition by DXC Technology in 2011.[1][2][3]

This article is about the software supplier. For the international symposium, see International Symposium on Fluorous Technologies.
iSOFT
IndustryHealthcare IT
HeadquartersSydney, Australia
ProductsHealthcare Software Applications
Websitewww.dxc.technology/healthcare

iSOFT was founded in 1996 as a business group within accounting group, KPMG and bought out of the Group in 1999. In 2000, iSOFT had a successful listing on the London Stock Exchange. iSOFT became part of the IBA Health Group following a merger completed in October 2007. The IBA Health Group has since changed its name to iSOFT Group to build on the goodwill associated with one of the world's leading health IT brands, iSOFT. iSOFT announced on 24 March 2011 that trading in its shares would be suspended pending a corporate announcement. Subsequently, on 4 April, the company announced that it was recommending a cash offer from Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) for $188 million. Subsequently, in April 2017 a merger of CSC and the Enterprise Services business of Hewlett Packard Enterprise created a new entity, DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC).

Accountancy irregularities

In the summer of 2004 the Guardian newspaper saw a confidential report suggesting questionable accounting practices in iSOFT tracing back to 2002.[4] iSOFT sought[5] and obtained an injunction against the paper preventing publication of the story, and a Parliamentary Written Question was answered by the government saying that they had no plans to look into the matter.[6]

The leaked confidential report had been commissioned prior to a merger between itself and its rival Torex[7] and had raised sufficient concerns within Torex that it was only rescued by the personal assurance of Sir Digby Jones, then Director-General of the CBI and non-executive director of iSOFT.

Following profits warnings in January 2006 and June 2006 due to changes in its accounting policy, the resignation of its chief executive, the announcement of losses of £344m for the year to April 2006, extensive delays to its already overdue LORENZO product[8] and the pulling out of one of its two main customers, Accenture, from the NHS government contract in September, and the opening of an investigation by the Financial Services Authority, the gagging order against the newspaper was lifted in October.[4]

The Chairman John Weston and board of directors appointed Alvarez and Marsal to advise the company and provide interim management and leadership alongside the newly appointed COO, Bill Henry in July 2006.

In January 2010, the FSA confirmed that they had begun legal proceedings against the four directors[9] who were involved in the irregularities. In March, the AADB excluded Ian Storey, former financial controller, from membership of his professional body ICAEW.[10] They were acquitted at Southwark Crown Court on July 22 after a seven-year investigation and two trials brought by the Financial Conduct Authority, which said it would not pursue a third prosecution as the “case was now stale”.[11] In 2013 the FCA has closed the case because of "procedural problems", clearing Patrick Cryne, Stephen Graham, Timothy Whiston and John Whelan of wrongdoing.[12]

Sale of company
  • In October 2006 iSOFT put itself up for sale.[13]
  • On 23 January 2007, the sale of iSOFT started to move forward, with three companies being shortlisted as bidders for the company. The Times newspaper listed US healthcare IT providers Cerner and McKesson Corporation, as well as US private equity company General Atlantic as the three companies looking at a package of around £200m to purchase iSOFT.
  • On 16 May 2007, iSOFT announced its recommendation to accept a merger with Australian company IBA Health in an all-stock deal.[14]
  • On 6 June 2007, Computer Sciences Corporation said it was not excluding the possibility of a CSC bid for iSOFT.
  • On 6 July 2007, iSOFT shareholders voted in favour of the IBA Health offer.
  • On 20 July 2007, CompuGROUP made an eleventh hour offer. iSOFT directors considered this proposal and concluded that the offer represented better value to iSOFT shareholders than the IBA offer. More details here.
  • On 21 August 2007, IBA made a revised offer and the iSOFT board recommended acceptance by shareholders. CompuGROUP said in response that it would not be increasing its own offer.
  • On 31 October 2007, IBA completed acquisition of iSOFT.

Software problems

iSOFT's flagship product Lorenzo patient record systems was dogged by a number of issues mainly centred on delays to delivery schedules[15] and questions over its suitability for the purpose it was intended.[16][17] As a result of continuous delays and quality issues, Singhealth, one of iSOFT's three early adopters abandoned plans to wait for delivery of LORENZO and opted to return to i.Clinical Manager's heritage product and deployed Sunrise Clinical Manager from Eclipsys instead.[18]

In November 2009, the government admitted that despite the challenges a handful of sites had gone live with Lorenzo, although there were only 174 regular users. A week later, Gary Cohen claimed that LORENZO would be live at 25 trusts in 2010, despite the history of problems.

Less than three months later, NHS trusts trying to install Lorenzo reported delays or deferred the installation of Lorenzo.

iSOFT history
  • 2017, DXC formed by the merger of CSC and the Enterprise Services business of Hewlett Packard Enterprise in April 2017
  • 2011, CSC acquired iSOFT in April 2011[19]
  • 2011, CSC announces its planned acquisition of iSoft Group
  • 2010, iSOFT Group acquires Belgium-based health IT company UltraGenda BV
  • 2009, iSOFT Group acquires Patient Safety International Pty Ltd.
  • 2009, iSOFT Group acquires US software developer BridgeForward
  • 2009, IBA acquires Hatrix Pty Ltd.
  • 2007, IBA Health Group merger
  • 2006, Disposal of Swiss operations
  • 2005, Acquisition of Novasoft Sanidad S.A.
  • 2004, Worldwide strategic alliance with Microsoft, Two principal contracts entered into to deliver software and services as part of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) in England
  • 2003, Merger with Torex plc
  • 2002, Acquisition of Revive Group Limited, Acquisition of Paramedical Pty Limited, Acquisition of healthcare business of Northgate Information Solutions plc, Microsoft global launch partner, and the only European software partner for the Windows XP Tablet PC launch
  • 2001, Dedicated offshore development business established in Chennai, India, Acquisition of ACT Medisys Limited, Acquisition of Eclipsys Limited and Eclipsys Pty Limited
  • 2000, Full listing on London Stock Exchange
  • 1999, Only Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 launch partner in UK health, Acquisition of CSC's Australian healthcare systems business
  • 1998, Management buy-out by senior executives to create iSOFT
  • 1994, Healthcare information systems business founded within KPMG

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See also

References

http://www.dxc.technology/about_us/ds/140019-our_history

  1. "CSC Finalizes iSOFT Acquisition". Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  2. iSOFT history
  3. CSC closes acquisition of iSoft ahead of NHS IT contract renegotiations
  4. "Memorandum submitted by Ian Griffiths and Simon Bowers, The Guardian". Public Accounts Committee - House of Commons. 26 March 2007. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  5. Fletcher, Firchard (22 August 2004). "Isoft goes to court over leak to press". London: The Times.
  6. John Hutton MP (14 September 2004). "Health - NHS Information Technology". TheyWorkForYou.com.
  7. Hopkins, Nic (23 July 2003). "Torex and iSoft unveil £700m merger plan". London: The Times.
  8. "Lorenzo stalled at Morecambe Bay". E-Health-Insider. 21 October 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  9. Hoeksma, Jon (6 January 2010). "Former iSOFT directors face court". e-Health-Insider.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012.
  10. Former iSoft FC excluded from the ICAEW after AADB probe Archived 24 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Accountancy Age, 22 March 2010
  11. Bounds, Andrew; Croft, Jane; Gray, Alistair (4 August 2013). "Call to reform directors' insurance as iSoft four left with bill". www.ft.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  12. "iSoft's former directors trial collapses". BBC. 22 July 2013.
  13. "guardianmemorandum"
  14. iSOFT board approves IBA Health takeover
  15. Fernandez, Joe (19 June 2008). "Lorenzo slipped 'months ago' say reports". e-Health-Insider.
  16. "'No believable plan' for completion of iSoft Lorenzo". e-Health-Insider. 21 August 2006.
  17. McCue, Andy (21 August 2006). ""No believable plan" for key NHS IT software". silicon.com.
  18. Richard Bacon, Christopher Hope (2013). Conundrum: Why Every Government Gets Things Wrong - and What We Can Do About it. ISBN 9781849545525.
  19. "CSC Enters into Agreement to Acquire iSOFT's Global Operations". DXC Technology. Retrieved 10 December 2019.

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