Dec 06/Jan 07

Accessing highly confidential data from the field is always a challenge for the mobile computing market, so a development in the healthcare sector could have wider ramifications for field applications in general

People known as "primary care-givers" (doctors and care workers) can now access data about patients held on the National Health Service files remotely from mobile devices for the first time. The objective is to enable people making home visits, attending emergencies and so on to make informed judgements about treatment more quickly and confidently.

The system is called MedifyRemote, and has been developed by Medify Solutions in association with Oracle, BT and Egton Medical Information Systems (EMIS). It allows users to access patient notes (known as "patient-identifiable" data) over a secure GPRS wireless link to the NHS N3 spine, using standard PDA devices.

MedifyRemote is said to be the only system to go live so far with this capability. The company says the contribution of EMIS has been critical, since its clinical systems are used in around 56 per cent all of GP surgeries UK wide. It says this has allowed the system to integrate seamlessly with a significant user base from day one.

The system was trialled initially in a pilot programme at NHS Doncaster Primary Care Trust, where it used the Vodafone data network. Now it is said to be going live with other users.

Medify Solutions is chaired by Jonathan Bryant, who trained in medical biotechnology and medical microbiology and worked in healthcare marketing at Merck Sharp and Dohme for seven years. In 2005 he launched a medical portal, www.medify.com, although more recently the focus has been on the solutions business.