First DataBank releases .NET toolkit for Multilex Drug Data File

7 July 2008

The Multilex Drug Data File (Multilex DDF) from First DataBank Europe (FDBE) is now available via a .NET toolkit. This toolkit has been developed to support clinical system suppliers in using latest technologies and in meeting emerging requirements and standards for clinical decision support within healthcare systems.

To enable simple and quick integration of Multilex DDF into clinical systems, FDBE offers a number of toolkits (application programming interfaces or APIs) built on different technology platforms, including COM and Java. In response to the arrival of new healthcare IT standards and increasingly diverse regional business processes, FDBE has designed the .NET toolkit to support future systems and enable its partners to meet these new demands.

Complex decision support functionality is presented in the simplest possible format, providing FDBE’s partners with the potential to reduce their development effort significantly and enable rapid roll-out of new clinical decision support functionality to users. To aid compliance with national standards, functional enhancements of the .NET toolkit include simplified management of multiple terminologies and regional healthcare requirements, as well as interoperability with international healthcare standards.

Designed for optimal performance, the toolkit architecture offers both high availability and scalability. It provides multiple configuration options thus future-proofing clinical systems against increasing functionality, performance and deployment requirements. The .NET toolkit also supports different deployment models including enterprise solutions and web services.

Polly Shepperdson, Product Manager at FDBE, said, “Providing this toolkit at a time when the capabilities of clinical systems are changing to adopt new standards and healthcare processes places FDBE and our partners in a strong position to deliver the complex decision support functionality specified by the NHS. The new .NET toolkit provides a better platform not only for speedier integration of the current Multilex DDF but also the next generation of clinical decision support.”

Dr Alex Yeates, Medical Director at Adastra, one of FDBE’s key business partners, said, “This is an eagerly anticipated development from FDBE. Adastra already develops in a .NET environment so the Multilex DDF .NET toolkit improves our ability to roll out FDBE’s clinical decision support to our users. It fits well with Adastra’s product development plans and provides us with more development opportunities going forward. The use of a common platform to deliver international content also aligns closely with Adastra’s international strategy.”