Apex

Apex

Turning data into decisions

Transforming data into decisions: empowering primary care with Apex

Apex is an intelligent, user-friendly analytics platform that turns complex clinical data into clear, actionable insights. Designed for primary care, it brings together real-time information from EMIS Web ® and SystmOne into intuitive dashboards — making it easy for teams to explore key trends in activity, capacity, and demand. By presenting the right information in the right way, Apex supports informed decision-making — helping practices, primary care networks (PCNs), and integrated care systems (ICSs) improve access, plan services, and respond to the changing needs of patients. With Apex, frontline staff and managers have the clarity they need to deliver better care and drive meaningful change.

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Unlock system-wide benefits — from individual practices to ICBs. Why choose Apex?

Save time, cut costs Apex reduces admin, automates reporting, and improves data quality — freeing up clinical time and cutting duplication. Practices, PCNs, and ICBs save money through smarter planning and streamlined processes. Enable secure, collaborative working Practices remain in control of their data, supported by responsible data sharing with Apex’s use of pseudonymised information and robust governance frameworks. This approach ensures secure sharing across practices, PCNs, and wider Systems, while

maintaining local autonomy and oversight. See the bigger picture — fast

Web-based dashboards provide easy access to key metrics at every level — from individual clinicians to practices, networks, and regions — with no manual work required.

Use accurate, actionable data Built on a consistent information model, Apex delivers clean, up-to-date data that supports confident, evidence-based decisions. Improve access and manage demand Track service use, DNAs, complex needs, and appointment trends to optimise access and reshape delivery based on actual demand. Drive efficiency across the system Automate reporting for Enhanced Access, QOF, DES/LES and more — without the need for manual searches or spreadsheets. Support new models of care Analyse patient flow, assess new pathways, and track outcomes to inform service redesign and improve delivery.

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Enable clinician-level insight Give clinicians a clear view of their activity — appointments, referrals, prescribing — to support appraisals, development, and day-to-day workload management. Build system-wide intelligence Provide PCNs, Federations, and ICBs with a shared view of activity, capacity, and demand — enabling better planning, workforce deployment, and service design. Plan for peak demand Model and manage seasonal surges or system pressures using Apex’s demand forecasting and capacity planning tools. Maximise impact of ARRS roles Track and compare workforce use across practices and PCNs to ensure fair allocation of resources and measurable outcomes. Optimise services with population insight Use detailed dashboards to understand condition prevalence, demographics, and patient distribution — enabling smarter service planning and reducing inequalities.

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Amid declining GP numbers and increasing workloads Nightingale Practice, in east London, has innovated their ways of working to be more efficient, whilst continuing to provide excellent patient care. By using Apex to harness the power of their data in EMIS Web, they’ve been able to alleviate the pressures of capacity and demand. Dr Nisha Patel, GP Partner at Nightingale Practice, said, “We have been looking at demand and capacity planning for a long time. Before Apex it was difficult to extract the data, audits never gave us accurate data, it was laborious for our staff, and not sustainable. Now, we can get the data in a matter of seconds.” Nightingale Practice alleviates pressures of capacity and demand through data driven innovation

Apex has taken away the guesswork of demand and capacity planning.”

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Like many other practices, GPs at Nightingale Practice were seeing an increasing number of patients every day. Reception staff were manually recording the data to help understand patterns in demand. The practice had unmet demand, no cohesive solutions, and had stretched and stressed staff. They installed Apex to help them understand how appointment requests were captured, better capture unmet demand, create services to serve the population needs, and to help them develop data led plans to manage appointments better in the future. The team can now accurately predict demand, enabling them to better manage capacity and workload. Patients are able to get appointments within 24 hours of their request — without needing to call back the next morning. The team can also allocate resources more effectively for specific needs such as double appointments, home visits, or appointments requiring a translator. As a result, GPs are able to spend more time with patients when it matters most. Nisha adds: “Before Apex this was so much harder, but once we had our appointment searches set up, we could extract the data, map trends over time, and respond accordingly, on a daily basis, if required.”

Simplifying claims and invoicing Contract Manager enables practices to generate claims and invoices for locally commissioned services in minutes, removing the need for time consuming, manual reporting. As a service within Apex, it brings together service monitoring, management, claim validation, and invoicing into one streamlined process. Data is automatically captured from the clinical system each night, ensuring reports are up to date. With automated reporting, practices and ICBs can be confident that all delivered services are accurately captured — supporting timely, transparent payments and reducing administrative burden. Unlock more with Contract Manager

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Key features:

Easy contract submission Seamlessly submit data to a commissioning organisation.

Time-saving automation Generate claims and invoice for services in minutes.

Tailored dashboards Customise dashboard to locally commissioned services to compile reports, review, and submit.

Submission history tab View claims that have been approved by the ICB and generate invoices at the click of a button.

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Following the successful use of Apex for analytics-driven capacity and demand planning, NHS Kent and Medway ICB’s primary care team introduced Apex Contract Manager to further streamline operations. This has saved practices up to 2,220 days per year across 185 sites — valuable time that can be reinvested in patient care. Prior to Contract Manager, admin, payment reconciliation, and invoicing across the ICB were manual processes. Teams had to run searches themselves, export data to Excel, and create PDFs for ICB approval. This process increased the risk of missed payments, resulting in practices losing out on funds they were owed. By automatically capturing data from their clinical systems, Contract Manager allows practices to generate claims and invoice for locally commissioned services in a matter of minutes and ensures payment for services delivered — saving time and reducing the risk of errors and delays. NHS Kent and Medway save the equivalent of over 2,000 days a year across 185 practices

Natalie Rennie, Senior Programme Manager in the Primary Care Transformation Team at NHS Kent and Medway, said, “Back-office administration can be burdensome for GP practices. The purpose of introducing Contract Manager was to help release time for practices in Kent and Medway to focus on patient care. It’s done that, and more.”

She continues, 2,220 days already sounds

impressive, but in reality, there is an even greater efficiency across the entirety of the care system when you factor in time saved from fewer payment queries, audit requests, and processing manual claims.”

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Apex Managed Service is designed to take the pressure off practices by eliminating the need for local system setup — ensuring consistent, high-quality data right from the start. We work with your practice to define your service specification. From there, we configure Apex to reflect local service lines (such as ARRS, reactive demand, and planned care) and modes of contact (like telephone or face-to-face appointments), ensuring alignment with both practice needs and ICB reporting requirements. We provide structured service definitions that ensure consistency across practices, PCNs, and ICBs. These can be tailored to reflect local services, including GP and nurse appointments, reactive demand, planned care and flu clinics. Apex Managed Service

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Everything is set up in line with NHS England’s data standardisation guidance — making regional and national reporting more efficient and reliable. Data quality is monitored monthly and to support changing service needs we offer ongoing support to adjust and reconfigure Apex — keeping your data relevant and accurate.

Key benefits:

Saves time by removing the need for manual configuration

Maintains data quality through monthly monitoring

Ensures consistent data across practices, PCNs, and ICBs

Supports evolving needs with ongoing reconfiguration

Aligns with NHS England data standards for easier reporting

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We believe that the right support makes all the difference. That’s why we provide unlimited training support to ensure our customers get the most out of our platform. Whether you’re a new user or an experienced professional looking to refine your skills, our team is here to help every step of the way. Lunch and learn sessions Our interactive lunch and learn sessions provide a convenient way to upskill without disrupting your workday. These sessions are designed to offer quick, focused insights on key features, best practices, and real-world applications of Apex. They’re a great opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and enhance your understanding in a relaxed setting. Unlimited training support

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Forum support and FAQs For on-demand assistance, our customer forum and frequently asked questions (FAQ) section offer a wealth of knowledge. Our online community allows users to engage with peers, share experiences, and find solutions quickly. Meanwhile, our FAQs provide answers to common queries, ensuring that help is at your fingertips. Friendly and supportive team The Optum team is committed to providing personalised, friendly support. Whether you require a walkthrough of a feature, troubleshooting assistance, or strategic advice on how to get the most from your data, our experts are ready to assist. We pride ourselves on being approachable, knowledgeable, and dedicated to your success. With the unlimited training support, you’re never alone. We’re here to ensure you feel confident and empowered in using our platform to its full potential. Whatever your question, our team and resources are just a call or click away.

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Get in touch

If you’d like to find out more about how we can support you, speak with your local account director today, or get in touch at:

uk.info@optum.com

optum.co.uk/tech-enabled-services

Egton Medical Information Systems Ltd (t/a Optum) is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02117205. Registered office: Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6BA. © 2025 Optum. All rights reserved.