CTFA.L Regulatory News (CTFA)

13 Apr 2010 07:00

13 April 2010 Avia Health Informatics Plc ("Avia" or "the Company") Launch of web deployed Odyssey TeleAssess Development of innovative Odyssey SelfAssess software to enable patient self-assessment

Avia (AIM: AVIA), the AIM-listed developer and provider of clinical decision support systems worldwide, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Plain Healthcare Limited ("Plain") has launched a web deployed and cloud enabled version of Odyssey TeleAssess and has also developed and successfully trialled Odyssey SelfAssess.

The launch of these new products, six months ahead of schedule, is a major achievement for the Company. The new methods for delivery of the products and simplification of product application will support the Company's international marketing and sales plan and the Company's worldwide reseller programme.

Web-deployed Odyssey TeleAssess

The Directors believe that being able to deploy Odyssey TeleAssess via the web will provide the following benefits:

* significantly extends the potential reach, user and customer base for Plain's clinical decision support products to UK and international markets * greatly assists the integration of Odyssey products into partner products worldwide

Odyssey TeleAssess 3.0 has been re-engineered to be implemented via a simple internet download. User navigation training via interactive video is also now available as a download with the product, substantially widening the worldwide reach. Odyssey TeleAssess 3.0 is `cloud' enabled, allowing small to medium sized services to reduce their upfront costs and to only pay for resources that they actually use whilst retaining high-availability and scalability.

Plain has developed the new Service Orientated Architecture to provide flexibility, scalability, security and interoperability in all deployment architectures. Plain is also pleased to announce that Odyssey TeleAssess 3.0 has been integrated into key partner products provided by our partners EMIS and TPP, which is in line with Plain's strategy of delivering clinical decision support solutions for GP practices, Equitable Access Centres and Poly Clinics across the UK.

Odyssey SelfAssess

The key characteristics of the Odyssey SelfAssess product are:

* it is designed to enable patients to assess their own needs instead of, or prior to, consulting with a healthcare professional * it is highly intuitive, easy to use and requires no training or special skills to use

Trials at three pilot sites have been very positive. The initial user responses indicate the product provides appropriate levels of guidance which in turn promotes high levels of user confidence.

Encouraging selfcare, thereby improving patient autonomy, access and waiting times are key to healthcare modernisation. Odyssey SelfAssess supports this goal by empowering patients to self-assess over the internet before they attend a healthcare facility or consult with a clinician. Such assessment allows a patient to present a summary of the problem and its associated symptoms which in turn can be used to inform the clinician's decision making and so enable more effective and efficient use of healthcare resources.

Plain is currently developing a number of different ways to deliver the product to patients including online linked to healthcare service websites, via the web in remote locations and via smart phones. Additionally, it is intended that it will be available at healthcare locations such as GP surgeries, pharmacists, emergency departments and walk-in centres. In these environments a patient, while waiting to see a healthcare professional, could self-assess their problem and either gain self-care advice that is appropriate to their needs, or produce a summary of their assessment which can be made available to the clinician - which may speed up the clinical consultation process.

Odyssey SelfAssess has now been piloted with around 500 patients, encompassing a wide variety of patient groups and conditions, at three different centres; Coventry University Student Health Centre, Walkergate GP Surgery and Encompass Walk-in-Centre. .

Tim Morris, UK Operations Director of Plain, commented:

"We are continuing to develop and expand the product range and we expect this to lead to a steady increase in sales in the UK and internationally. The new products have been very well received and further broaden our product offering and potential markets."

Barry Giddings, Chairman of Avia Health Informatics Plc, commented:

""The new Odyssey TeleAssess service orientated architecture allows us to deliver clinical decisions support to a wider user base more quickly, thereby ensuring we are more responsive to our customers and partner's needs - a key objective of the business."

For more information on the Odyssey products please visit www.plain.co.uk

Enquiries:

Avia Health Informatics Plc Barry Giddings, Chairman 07770 747 818

Merchant John East Securities Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Simon Clements/Bidhi Bhoma 020 7628 2200 Lothbury Financial Services Limited (Financial PR) Gary Middleton/Michael Padley 020 7868 2567 Notes to editors

Avia Health Informatics plc was admitted to trading on AIM on 16 November 2009 having completed a reverse takeover of The Plain Software Company Limited ("Plain"). It is Avia's intention to grow the business both organically and by acquisition.

The Company produces a range of clinical decision support products under the Odyssey brand:

* Odyssey TeleAssess which supports telephone triage by nurses and the provision of up-to-date self-care advice; is also used to manage demand for clinical services in an efficient manner. Used by GP out of hours services, GP surgeries in-hours, ambulance trusts and the MoD. * Odyssey FaceToFace is used by nurse-led clinics such as NHS Walk-in Centres, GP-led Health Centres, Polyclinics, primary care centres and practices staffed by varying nurse grades. It's also used in prisons. * Odyssey Reception is utilised by non-clinical staff to prioritise patient queues and identify potential emergencies quickly and safely. It may be used by receptionists throughout primary care services. * Odyssey Gold a state-of-the-art combination product comprising some or all Odyssey variants: Reception, TeleAssess and FaceToFace merged into one, seamless solution. * Odyssey eCover allows health managers to commission health workers to work from home to provide emergency cover when needed. Securely held on N3 servers, its sophisticated security system allows access via domestic broadband. * Odyssey FirstAssess is being developed specifically for use in the Prison service to help improve healthcare in this challenging environment. * Odyssey SelfAssess is being developed to allow patients to self-assess their symptoms prior to consultation with clinical services Odyssey products interact with leading patient administration systems and other key systems used by the NHS.