Microsoft recognises EMIS and CareWorks

UK IT system suppliers EMIS and CareWorks have been named as two of three worldwide finalists in Microsoft’s Public Sector Health Partner of the Year awards.

The overall winner in the category was US-based iLink Systems which worked with Microsoft’s HealthVault and Microsoft’s Health Common User Interface to implement a community-based personal health record system in the US.

The finalists will receive their awards at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans this week. Microsoft said its annual awards aim to recognise companies who have used Microsoft technologies to develop exemplary solutions for their clients in the last 12 months. This year the awards attracted more than 2,000 entries across 69 categories.

EMIS said it had been selected for its next generation system EMIS Web, which has been built using Microsoft technologies and aims to enable primary, secondary and community clinicians to view and contribute to a patient’s core GP medical record.

EMIS said the Microsoft judges were highly impressed with the product’s ability to improve patient care and unlock NHS efficiencies by breaking down traditional barriers between clinicians.

Gary Shuckford, EMIS operations director, will collect the award. He said: “We are thrilled that EMIS Web has received global recognition, at such an early stage. We have spent five years developing a system which allows seamless and secure exchange of information across the entire healthcare team.”

He added: “Microsoft Corp was quick to recognise the product’s ability to deliver better care for patients, and huge time and cost savings for practitioners. It’s a wonderful pat on the back for the whole development team at EMIS.”

CareWorks provides electronic case management software for social care, criminal justice and health. Its CareDirector product is a new social care management system that enables the public to direct their own social care.