Australia-based iSoft has signed an agreement to distribute Picis CareSuite solutions in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand.

Picis, headquartered in Wakefield, Mass., supplies IT systems targeted for hospitals' accident and emergency wards and has customers in more than 1,700 hospitals in 19 countries. The alliance with iSoft enables the company to integrate its CareSuite high-acuity tools with iSoft apllications in ICU- and anesthesia-based projects.

iSoft will also provide support and implementation services for CareSuite in the new markets.

"By incorporating Picis solutions into our product offering, we are creating one of the most extensive offerings in the entire healthcare IT sector," said Adrian Stevens, managing director of iSOFT’s UK and Ireland business. "Our expanded software portfolio further demonstrates our commitment to providing our clients with interoperable solutions that meet their business and clinical documentation needs, ultimately helping them improve their overall efficiency."

iSoft's systems are used in more than 13,000 provider organizations in more than 40 countries worldwide, according to a company statement. UK-based NHS trusts Frimley Park Hospital and Torbay Hospital have already implemented the iSoft/Picis systems.