Lean Healthcare Academy unveils Product Partner model

27-Feb-2010 All partners will be carefully selected and vetted to ensure they offer only the most relevant and value for money products required throughout the NHS': Judith Clarkson.

The Lean Healthcare Academy has launched a new 'Product Partner' project pertinent to companies and organisations supplying the NHS.

Its first official partner is Huddersfield-based information management systems provider Visual Systems Healthcare.

The company's products incorporate bed patient chart holders and ranges designed to help deliver Productive Wards, a programme that empowers nurses and therapists to improve core ward processes, cut out waste and, as a direct result, channel more time into direct patient care.

The initiative supplements the expanding stable of products and services offered by the Lean Healthcare Academy, a leader in the field of training, implementation and sustaining improvement activities across the whole health economy. It is a standalone division of online training pioneer Virtual College, of Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Judith Clarkson, Virtual College's divisional director of e-academies, explained: "Due to huge demand from our 24-strong network of NHS member organisations, we have implemented the scheme to bring all product partners under a single supply umbrella.

"All will be carefully selected and vetted to ensure they offer only the most relevant and value for money products required throughout the NHS. In return, product partners will gain access to a growing network of established clients through the Lean Healthcare Academy's online store. They will also feature in our marketing material and have opportunities to sponsor relevant sector-specific events."

Visual Systems Healthcare director Helen Hunter, said: "Becoming the Lean Healthcare Academy's first official product partner is an opportunity for us to further strengthen our existing partnership with the NHS and its Productive Ward strategy through the use of our many Lean-focused information products. It is already opening new doors for us."

Other potential product partners are now being invited to register their interest, with a cut-price introductory rate in place for the first ten sign-ups. Full details are posted at www.leanhealthcareacademy.co.uk or contact Judith Clarkson on 01943 605976, e-mail judith.clarkson@virtual-college.co.uk

About Virtual College
Founded in 1995, Virtual College has developed into one of the UK's leading providers of total solutions within the e-learning arena. Its key objective is to help enhance the traditional learning solution through the careful integration of technology. This total solution embraces all aspects of the learning experience and, unlike many other e-learning providers, extends to actual programme/qualification delivery - resulting in a unique blended delivery solution.

The company has developed a comprehensive product range focused specifically on helping businesses improve their performance through the adoption of new ways of learning. The successes achieved in providing innovative and effective learning solutions demonstrate that the Virtual College is well on our way to achieving its mission statement: "To be a world-class provider of blended training and development solutions."