Red Cross hires IBM for software overhaul

IBM has secured a new contract with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to work through the service's first national overhaul of its critical blood management software.

(Abstract blood cells image by Hector Lazo, CC BY-SA 2.0)

The win sees IBM working as an implementation partner with the Blood Service to continue the roll-out of its National Blood Management System that kicked off in March.

The system tracks the supply chain of blood products and facilitates testing, inventory and distribution management facilities for the service's red cell, plasma and platelet stock.

IBM's role as implementation partner will see the technology giant provide databases and software testing resources, and will ensure legal and regulatory compliance of the system.

"Upgrading the … software is essential for maintaining the efficient and effective operation of blood donation and blood product supply services for Australians," said Jennifer William, CEO of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

"This is the first software application upgrade on a nationwide scale to be undertaken by the Blood Service," said Anne Cheetham, IBM's associate partner and lead, Victorian Public Sector.

Both IBM and the Blood Service declined to comment on the length and value of the new contract, which sees IBM add yet another card to its healthcare deck — which contains other prominent contract wins including a $23.6 million contract with the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA).