Implementation of Single Sign-On in Ireland's Health Service

Introduction:

Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) aim is to provide a digital workplace for staff in the health and social care sector. The implementation of Single Sign-On in the Irish healthcare system aims to enhance clinical efficiency and cybersecurity by allowing healthcare professionals to use a single secure login for accessing multiple systems and applications. This technology minimises the time spent on logging in and out of various systems, thus maximising patient care time and reducing the frustration associated with multiple passwords.

Challenge:

With the increase in available solutions there are challenges, one of which is an increase in the administrative tasks associated with system access, cumbersome login procedures with multiple user IDs and passwords, exacerbated by old and slow technology. These are creating bottlenecks for clinicians in accessing healthcare systems, stealing valuable time from patient care.

Solution:

To help staff access systems in a more efficient way the HSE introduced Single Sign On, this will allow staff to just tap their ID badge and they will have instant access to all clinical systems. Single Sign-On in the context of the Irish Health Service refers to a system that allows healthcare professionals to access multiple health[1]related applications with one set of login credentials. This is designed to streamline access to patient records, reduce the time spent on authentication, and improve overall efficiency and security within the healthcare system.

Benefits:

 • Efficiency: Reduces the need for multiple logins, saving time for healthcare professionals.

 • Improved Workflow: Simplifies the workflow by allowing seamless transitions between applications.

• Enhanced Security: Centralised authentication can be more secure and easier to manage. 

• User Experience: Provides a better user experience by minimising login issues and password fatigue.

Complexity:

 Implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) in the Irish Health Service presents several challenges, reflecting the complexity and sensitivity of the healthcare environment:

• The HSE ICT estate comprises numerous legacy systems, proprietary software, and modern applications. Integrating these disparate systems under a single authentication framework can be highly complex. 

• Buy-in from all stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, IT staff, and administrators, is crucial for successful implementation. 

• Single Sign On solution must be scalable to accommodate the entire healthcare system, including future expansions and increased user loads. 

• Older applications might not support modern provisioning standards

Current Status and Future Direction:

 The Irish Health Service, through the Health Service Executive (HSE), has been progressively implementing Single Sign On to enhance the digital infrastructure of healthcare services. This is part of a broader strategy to digitise healthcare and improve service delivery. The scope of the project is to implement the solution in all acute services with a view to expand this to other areas within the HSE in the future.

Multi-site deployments are currently in progress, with many locations already utilising Single Sign-On. Upcoming sites include Beaumont Hospital, Holles Street, The Rotunda, and the National Rehabilitation Hospital.

Future directions include expanding the range of integrated applications, improving security protocols, and continuously refining the user experience.

For more information, view the Single Sign On webpage here.