Technology impacts Lives

At Cerner, we believe healthcare is too important to stay the same. That is why we invest $800 million each year towards advances in our technology to provide the NHS, and our global healthcare clients, with a class leading electronic patient record, empowering their healthcare system to deliver better care and outcomes to their people. ?

Our solutions are the platform from which healthcare care springboards forward. Our technology meets the needs of hospital trusts, but this is just the start of creating the environment for long-term sustainable change. Today, on National Technology Day, we want to share the impact of Cerner working around the world; from our partners in the U.S (United States), working in prevention providing fresh food and vegetables to tackle diabetes, Healthy Wirral Partners using data science to identify those with learning disabilities are at six times greater risk of admission for flu twice that of COPD - from their shared records; and Royal Free digitalising their pathways to reduce variation and driving efficiency for better patient outcomes. ?

To be able to understand the challenges any hospital and healthcare system faces we seek to deeply understand the people they serve. We are committed to tackling the ‘causes, of the causes’ of ill health though our partnership with Public Policy Projects, the Institute of Health Equity and Sir Michael Marmot. Exploring the impact of tackling inequity and the positive impact this can have on people lives, how those working in the wider health network can impact on people’s outcomes by understanding the population, how hospital Trusts can reduce admission risks working system to person, and how the Cerner Charitable Foundation can impact in our clients’ communities. ?

Our clients’ success enables Cerner to be a successful global leader. And our Cerner employees (associates) are the power behind the Cerner Charitable Foundation; our approach is dedicated to building healthier tomorrows and stronger communities around the world. In the UK the foundation supports organisations whose aim is to address inequity, inequality, and improve the lives of the people our clients serve, and our associates live and work. ?

The Cerner Charitable Foundation is able to support organisations financially through donations, and by gifting our associates paid volunteering time to allow them to support their local communities. This includes supporting the North Paddington Food Bank to sort donations and dressing up to deliver?Christmas presents and parties to the Stephen Hawking School for children with profound, multiple and severe learning, health and care needs. ?

Little Village is like a foodbank, but for clothes, toys and equipment for babies and children up to the age of 5. They gift donations to local families who are dealing with really challenging circumstances – homelessness, unemployment, low wages and domestic violence. The Little Village dream is that no child in London grows up without essential items for daily life. ?

They try to make it as easy as possible for local families to support one another during times of need. It takes a village to raise a child, through their work families grow confidence, connection, and community at the same times as alleviating material poverty. Child poverty is rising for the first time in 20 years and is at its highest in inner city London. Cerner Charitable Foundation has supported Little Village through our associates and our donations Since 2019. We want to be able to support organisations who have a direct impact on the wider determinants of health, and the impacts felt by inequality and inequity. ?

As a technology company we can have a direct impact on the digital divide in the UK. A lack of digital skills and access can have a huge negative impact on a person’s life, leading to poorer health outcomes and a lower life expectancy, increased loneliness and social isolation, less access to jobs and education. It can mean paying more for essentials, financial exclusion, and an increased risk of experiencing poverty. People who are digitally excluded can lack a voice and visibility in the modern world, as government services and democracy increasingly move online. ?

Those already at a disadvantage through age, education, income, disability, or unemployment are most likely to be missing out, further widening the social inequality gap. In 2022, the Cerner Charitable Foundation will be tackling the digital divide by facilitating returned associate devices to organisations with direct links to those in need of technology. Working with the Vodaphone Great British Tech Appeal to clean, wipe, and re-box mobile phones for donation to Barnardo’s, with six months free connectivity. Business2Schools donates business used furniture and tech to UK and international schools to ensure it maximized to the end of its purposeful life. The Cerner Charitable Foundation also welcomes nominations from associates for organisations in their local communities from across the UK to receive free, ready to go, laptops so our associates’ own communities can get online. ?

On National Technology Day we don’t only celebrate the ways technology improves our lives, whether that be through more efficient, connected, outcomes focused healthcare delivery, but what being a successful leading technology company allows us to do, and how we use our philanthropic activities to really address the real issues people face in life. Through financial support of associate paid volunteering, direct financial and material donations, and through ensuring the technology we use every day in our mission is maximised to the end of its purposeful life. ?