EMIS Group plc (AIM: EMIS) and INPS, the UK's leading suppliers of healthcare software to GPs, today announced that they have formed a 50:50 joint venture company named Healthcare Gateway Limited.
The aim of the joint venture is to implement a medical interoperability gateway (MIG) that will facilitate the sharing of data between healthcare professionals.
EMIS and INPS software users in the UK represent 75 of the UK population. The ability for healthcare professionals to securely share patient data is fundamental to improving the efficiency of NHS frontline services and patient care.
The formation of Healthcare Gateway Limited, allows real time interoperability with GP systems and other healthcare professionals within the NHS. This has the potential to significantly increase efficiency in the NHS in addition to improving patient care.
Secure data exchange via the MIG can keep both GPs and clinicians in any healthcare setting up to date, making care decisions as informed as possible. The MIG can be used to:
- View patient detailed care records - different healthcare teams involved in the care of a patient can share vital clinical data for improved health outcomes as well as save time by not duplicating patient demographic data.
- Exchange electronic discharge summaries and clinical documents – for example outpatient documents and discharge summaries sent to the patient's GP practice for immediate after care.
- Chronic disease record views - front line staff can share patient data for easier and more informed management of patient's complex long term conditions.
- Medication record views - access to a patient's current medication information in an unscheduled care setting can help increase patient safety as well as improving diagnoses.
- Exchange of Child health information - sharing of key child health information such as immunizations conducted in the primary care which can be electronically sent directly into a Child health system, thus eliminating duplication of data entry
The development of this medical interoperability gateway has been driven by demand from the NHS and other healthcare providers to move to a 'connect all' ethos. The need for wider access to a critical mass of birth-to-grave patient records is increasingly important given the drive to deliver more NHS services in the community.
It is expected that both the NHS and other software providers, both in primary, community and hospital settings will buy services from Healthcare Gateway Limited to further connect up the computer systems in the NHS.
Sean Riddell, EMIS CEO, said: "Our partnership with INPS is a land mark collaboration between two leading suppliers that has the potential to deliver more efficient services, and improved care, for 75% of the UK population. The ability for healthcare professionals to securely share patient data is fundamental to improving the efficiency of NHS frontline services and patient care"
Max Brighton, INPS Managing Director, said: "In these times of austerity we have a responsibility to offer solutions that help clinicians to provide their patients with high quality services, and at the same time, improve efficiencies within the NHS. Our work in collaboration with EMIS to allow the secure exchange of data using the MIG is a significant milestone in healthcare IT."
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