Emis enjoys strong uptake of patient apps

The Leeds-based group is at the forefront of the drive to tackle preventative medical problems and encourage people to live a healthier lifestyle.

The group’s website “Patient” is attracting around 17 million unique visitors a month and 30 million page views.

Emis said Patient helps people to manage their own care by using clinically reviewed health and well-being information.

The group recently launched a new service that allows users to get access to their medical records. This helps when it comes to repeat prescriptions as people can use their laptop or mobile to re-order their medication and this can be passed straight on to the pharmacist.

​Emis CEO ​Chris Spencer said: “It’s all about faster, cheaper, better care.”

At the back end of last year 39 per cent of doctors had switched on “Patient” and by the end of June, 99 per cent had switched it on.

“This allows doctors to look at what patients are doing and vice versa. Patients can see when they last had a jab or they can book an appointment,” said Mr Spencer.

Patient is expected to contribute up to £1.5m in revenue in 2016.

Emis also reported strong demand for Apple’s new iOS 8 built-in health app, which is called HealthKit.

This can store information about people’s blood pressure, heart beat, weight and how many steps they have taken.

“HealthKit has gone well and 10,000 patients are already using it and making millions of observations,” said Mr Spencer.

“It appeals to young people and to people in the 90s. It appeals to early adopters of any age.”

Emis said it has been using Apple HealthKit like a concept car.

“You build one with all sorts of bells and whistles and some don’t make it into production,” said Mr Spencer.

He was speaking as Emis announced a 17 per cent jump in revenue to £77.8m in the six months to June 30. Pre-tax profit rose seven per cent to £13.6m.

The firm said its Emis Web for GPs is now live in 4,431 practices, up from 4,261 at the end of December.

Last year the group launched Emis Web Viewer, which allows medical professionals to view vital primary care information for their patients - including current medications and allergies.

Hospitals that have taken up the software have seen a dramatic reduction in errors. Previously the number of medications that included an error was a shockingly high 50 per cent, but Viewer has reduced this level to 20 per cent.

The number of patients given medication that failed to take into account their allergies fell from 11 per cent before Viewer to zero following its uptake.

Analyst Adam Lawson at Panmure Gordon said: “Emis continues to present a clean bill of health.

“A positive outlook is supported by strong revenue visibility, order book and pipeline, and we continue to see multiple growth opportunities across the business as well as the potential created by the Government’s continued focus on delivering integrated healthcare.”

In July, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that within the next five years, electronic health records “will be available seamlessly in every care setting” and professionals will be able to access them, share them, mark preferences, and shape the care they want around them.

Analyst Chris Glasper at N+1 Singer said: “The results are as solid as ever and Emis looks well on track to hit our expectations for the full year.”