Article | Supporting remote working during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the working landscape for many across the country. For NHS teams, the ability to work remotely ensures they can continue caring for patients at this time, even in scenarios where practices are temporarily closed, or clinicians are self-isolating.

Lots of our customers have been asking us how we can support their remote working needs. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together the key information on our remote working solutions for you to consider what’s right for you.

BMJ are recommending video and telephone consultations as best practice during the COVID-19 crisis, and have pulled together some quick guidance to support this which you can find here.

Anywhere Consult

Anywhere Consult is our complete remote working solution, enabling full access to EMIS Web from anywhere with an internet connection. The package includes:

Dell Latitude 5300 laptop
N3 / HSCN connection
Smartcard reader and required software
Full access to EMIS Web (or SystmOne)
Data SIM card
Dull access to spine services (EPS, Summary care record and e-referral service).

For practices that don't use EMIS Web or Patient Access, there are non-integrated solutions available.

Add-on solutions

If you already have a laptop and don’t need the complete Anywhere Consult solution, there are other add-on options to help enable remote working:

For connection to the N3 / HSCN network we have 2 options:
- Hard tokens - key fobs with a physical code access system
- Soft tokens - software that can be installed on various operating systems
USB smart card readers that enable RBAC access
Data sim cards to allow access to the internet when WIFI is not available
EMIS Web can be downloaded from Optum Help Centre

EMIS-X Mobile

EMIS-X Mobile provides access to core elements of EMIS Web on any tablet or Windows laptop, supporting safer decisions at the point of care – no matter where that care is provided. With easy to use templates and a clear interface, EMIS-X Mobile is the ideal solution for those visiting patients in their homes.

View and update patient records
Access supporting documents and view existing care plans
Download patient records to work offline and sync updates when internet becomes available
View a map of appointment locations to plan journeys
Native Android, iOS and Windows® 10 apps available
Smartcard not required

Please note that EMIS-X Mobile lacks some of the full functionality of EMIS Web. There is limited patient history (2 years), and no ability to attach documents, register new patients or receive tasks. There is also no access to Spine services (EPS, Summary care record and e-referral service) and search and reports. If these are requirements, you may wish to consider Anywhere Consult.