First DataBank and System C Healthcare have signed a new contract to fully integrate First DataBank’s Multilex Drug Data File into System C’s Medway patient administration system.

The deal will see the companies work together to develop enhanced prescribing capability within the PAS and electronic patient record system.

Dr Ian Denley, chief executive of System C, said: “Multilex DDF is a comprehensive and widely-used drug knowledge base and we are delighted to be building it into the Medway PAS/EPR.

“The development will provide rich integration within Medway between prescribing and other clinical functionality such as orders and alerts, which is essential for the management of integrated care pathways.”

System C’s Medway EPR had prescribing and medicines management build into the clinical pathway for both inpatients and outpatients.

It also includes clinical decision support such as checks against pathology results and drug interactions, warnings and access to full prescribing guidance via Multilex DDF.

Dr Neill Jones, clinical director at First DataBank,said: “System C has a proven record in the UK healthcare sector and a wealth of knowledge in clinical and patient administration systems.

"Through our partnership with System C, First DataBank will continue to extend the reach of Multilex DDF in secondary care settings across the UK.”

Last week, System C said in a trade update that it expects to report an increase in annual revenue of around 75%, compared with the previous year.

Profits before tax are expected to be in-line with current market expectations of £5.4m for the year ended 31 May 2010, compared to £4.1m in 2009.

The company said it has had success in signing deals with Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for its clinical information system.

Other recent product installations have included multiple deployments of the company’s clinical dashboard, web portal, maternity, accident and emergency, and other departmental modules.

The company also remains heavily involved in deploying third party products from iSoft and Cerner under the National Programme for IT in the NHS, with both NHS Connecting for Health and local service providers as clients.

Links: System C

First DataBank

System C trade update