Wait for EMIS Web dispensing module

Healthcare IT supplier EMIS expects to release a dispensing module for EMIS Web by the end of June.

The supplier says development is complete and the module is undergoing pilot testing in non-live practices ahead of an anticipated release between April and June this year.

The module will be released between six and nine months after the company received full roll-out approval from NHS Connecting for Health for core functionality plus compliance with a range of CfH programmes including the Summary Care Record and Choose and Book.

A dispensing practice, which did not want to be named, told EHI Primary Care that the time gap between the approval of the core functionality and the arrival of the dispensing functionality is creating problems for dispensing practices.

The practice manager said practices were under pressure from cash-strapped primary care trusts to move to systems provided under local service provider contracts and were being frustrated by the wait for the dispensing module.

He added: “EMIS have around 800 dispensing customers who want Web now, but risk losing business because EMIS has not signed off on its dispensing module.”

Sean Riddell, chief executive of EMIS group, told EHI Primary Care:”EMIS takes the needs of its dispensing practices seriously and is strongly focused on business continuity to ensure a seamless migration from existing systems to EMIS Web.

"EMIS has completed development of the dispensing module for EMIS Web; this is currently undergoing pilot site testing in non-live practices so that usability and new functionality can be fine-tuned.

"Once this phase is complete, EMIS Web dispensing will be made available to existing LV / PCS sites looking to upgrade to EMIS Web. We currently anticipate release in Q2 2011.

“EMIS Web represents a fundamental step-change in IT systems for healthcare in the UK; hence the need for careful pilot site testing and rollout to ensure we get it absolutely right for all users.

"We appreciate the pressure that some users are under, and would like to reassure them of the real advantages that EMIS Web will deliver for them.”