The National Health Archive (NHA) of Norway has chosen Piql to deliver the first digitial preservation project of its kind.

This groundbreaking 10-year project will see the establishment of a digital long-term archive for medical patient records. This project has global significance for how data can be put to use in understanding a nation’s health.

Piql will work in close cooperation with Artefactual Systems Inc. to deliver this first of its kind health records preservation solution, based on Archivematica, the leading open source digital preservation platform.

Managing Director of Piql, Rune Bjerkestrand, says he is excited about the project and its significance for the global health sector.

We are proud to be part of this project and look forward to delivering a project that will create a legacy for how historical health data can benefit society,’ he said. ‘We will bring our innovation and creativity to this project, using our expertise to deliver a high quality service to this new and valued client.

Founder and Managing Director of Piql, Rune Bjerkestrand

Artefactual’s incoming Managing Director, Justin Simpson, states that this project is an ideal application of the Archivematica platform, and a demonstration of the power of openness and collaboration in implementing digital preservation systems.

Piql have shown real long term vision in their approach to this project. By partnering with Artefactual, together we will help the NHA to deliver innovative new capabilities in health record preservation and access in Norway. Through the use of the open source Archivematica platform, this project will benefit digital preservation efforts across the world for years to come.

Managing Director of Artefactual, Justin Simpson

All historical, current and future medical records from deceased patients treated by the Norwegian Specialised Healthcare-services, must by law be remitted to the Norwegian National Health Archives. Paper-based records will be digitised, indexed and archived together with the born-digital EHR.

This data, kept indefinitely, will show over time the development of the population’s health, providing opportunities for new research with global significance.

‘The really exciting thing about this project is the implications it has for how we think and manage historical health data globally. This project will allow the re-use and maximizing the benefit this data can provide,’ Mr Bjerkestrand said.

‘Our expertise in archival management and Artefactual’s expertise in providing a sophisticated open source platform is a winning partnership,’ he said.