Imagine you have an ailment such as a stomach ache, and instead of troubling your overworked GP, you log onto your computer, answer a few simple questions and then receive an accurate diagnosis there and then. No need to visit the doctor unless the prognosis is serious.
This is the vision of Barry Giddings, chairman of Avia Health Informatics which has joined Aim today valued at around £3m. As part of the move the company has raised £1.2m in cash by issuing new shares at 60p each, having already paid £1.6m in cash and shares to buy what is now its main subsidiary, Plain Healthcare.
Founded almost 15 years ago Plain specialises in clinical decision software, which allows doctors and nurses to diagnose complaints either face to face or over the telephone, thus saving time and - importantly for the National Health Service - money. The system is being used by around 60% of after-hours medical services and health centres, as well as ambulance services. The company said that East Midlands Ambulance service saved £2m a year when its nurses used Plain's Odyssey system.
Avia is also seeking out other markets, both at home and abroad, and has already sold its system to two prisons, where it is used to determine whether unwell prisoners need to be transported to hospital - often at great expense - or whether they can be treated in situ. There are possible military applications, and Plain has a contract with British forces in Germany providing consultation services.
As part of the licence fee paid by the customer, the software is updated twice a year with new information on diseases and ailments. But Giddings said this can be done more quickly if necessary: "We updated it for swine flu within seven days."
The company used to deliver its software by CD but has now developed a web-based version, at a cost of around £500,000, which has been running since October. Part of the cash raised by the move to Aim will be used to market the new version, and seek prospective partners around the world.
Giddings believes the next step is using the Plain system for self assessment, and the development of a web version brings this one step closer. The company is also keen to make bolt-on acquisitions, either using cash or its new Aim share currency.
According to the prospectus, Avia had sales of £1.8m last year but made a loss of £217,000, taking into account investment in new staff to expand and develop its operations.
The company has received a good reception on Aim, with its shares currently standing at 72p.
