As part of its digitisation vision for the future of healthcare in the UK and in further commitment to the training and development of its pharmacists, Boots has announced new partnerships this year with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). 

Available to all 5,600 Boots pharmacists, the HIMSS online modules cover subjects including the benefits of digital healthcare for patients, how to quickly adopt digital solutions in community pharmacy, and the future of digital health. The training will mean Boots team members will be among the first community pharmacists in the UK to help influence the direction of digital healthcare and react to the evolution of both virtual and physical patient self-care. 

A new partnership with CHIME will focus on the art and science of digital healthcare, enabling the digital healthcare function within Boots to become part of the growing global network of accredited leaders, educating team members to the same expert level as many NHS health professionals and global IT professionals. 

These two new partnerships for 2022 come after Boots partnered with BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, in late 2021. The partnership gives Boots UK technology team members access to BCS bespoke training packages, development programmes and networking opportunities. Boots and the Information Security Forum (ISF) also announced a new deal, allowing team members to access personal development content and assurance tools on information security, focussing on supply chain and community pharmacy. 

By September 2022, Boots expects that all technology team leaders will have gained accreditation as fellows of the BCS, 5,600 Boots pharmacists will have HIMMS accreditation, and the technology leadership team will have sat the International Certified Healthcare (CIO) examination. 

Richard Corbridge, VP & Chief Information Officer, Boots UK & Ireland said: “As digital leaders in an ever-changing environment, we need to learn from others. Boots UK’s new partners in HIMSS and CHIME, as well as BCS and ISF will allow our team members at all levels to gain access to the development and knowledge they need. 

“Being able to offer our team members at Boots the opportunities for continuous development is an attractive proposition. Our teams want to be considered as a key part in orchestrating the future of how the nation delivers technology for patients and customers, and these partnerships are instrumental to achieving this vision.”