CAS Service, the UK-based supplier of access management and clinical decision support systems for the healthcare market, has announced it is to acquire Clinical Solutions LLC, a US developer of clinical content. The price paid for Clinical Solutions was not disclosed.

The deal brings together the CAS’s experience as the firm that supplies the software behind NHS Direct with Clinical Solution’s experience in developing of automated clinical decision support tools.

CAS says it will use Clinical Solutions nurse triage content and other products to develop "healthcare access solutions for use in both call centre and face to face environments".

According to CAS Clinical Solution’s Teleguide Algorithms are already used throughout the world by clinicians in call centres, walk in clinics and emergency services. The system is claimed to be the most widely used nurse triage product in the world. Following the deal the development team of CSL will join CAS.

"This deal solidifies the long-standing relationship between CAS and Clinical Solutions. They have been instrumental in the success of our clinical decision support solutions deployed throughout the UK to NHS Direct in England and Wales, NHS 24 in Scotland and the national Walk In Centres," said Robert Thompson, CEO of CAS.

Thompson added: "The clinical product portfolio that Clinical Solutions brings to CAS will be pivotal to our expansion into new markets both in the UK and internationally."

CAS says that its products are highly scalable, offering a flexible platform that is adaptable and suitable for use in settings from GP surgeries to national healthcare access projects.

In March 2005 CAS was acquired by an international consortium of institutional investors including Bridgepoint, Allco Finance Group and Benchmark Capital.