Over a thousand former Faculty of Clinical Informatics members are to be invited to join BCS after FCI decided to voluntarily wind down and transfer activities to BCS, an organisation with similar charitable objectives.
FCI had around 1,200 members in a range of clinical roles and six communities of practice, producing continuous professional development and thought leadership. It also organised an annual Scientific Conference.
Strengthening the Health and Care Community
BCS sees this as a good opportunity to strengthen the BCS Health and Care community, which already has around 3,000 members, partnerships with 50 NHS Trusts and healthcare organisations and six special interest groups. The aim is to create a BCS Faculty of Health and Care as a multidisciplinary community of clinical and non-clinical informaticians over the next few months, providing leadership in digital health.
Jan Hoogewerf, Head of Health and Care Corporate Engagement, said: “BCS welcomes the former FCI members to our vibrant health community, and we look forward to working with them in our joint mission to strengthen professionalism in digital health.”
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Prof Philip Scott, Chair of the BCS Health and Care Executive, said: “This move means we can join forces, build on previous collaborations, add weight to our already substantial body of expertise, and increase the breadth of knowledge of our specialist groups. This can only be good as we all seek to position ethical professional informaticians at the heart of health and social care.”
Next steps
FCI was a fellow member of the Federation for Informatics Professionals (FEDIP). BCS already had some shared activities with FCI in the BCS Primary Healthcare Specialist Group and a joint working group on computable biomedical knowledge.
The offer went out to FCI members on Friday, 2nd February, and BCS will be working to onboard and welcome them into BCS membership and fellowship over the next few weeks. A Clinical Informatics Committee will support the transition of FCI members and activities into BCS.
About BCS Health and Care
BCS Health and Care is a respected and long established members’ specialist group that supports and advocates for ethical, competent digital health and care staff. It provides engaging CPD programmes, and plays a leading role in promoting computable knowledge in clinical decision support, education, research and public health.
BCS welcomes former FCI members and all clinical informaticians who want to join us. Find out how to join us as an individual member
If you are interested in your organisation or team joining please contact jan.hoogewerf@bcs.uk
