A SPORT rehabilitation practitioner from the region is set to transform his industry after creating a cutting-edge piece of clinic room computer software.

Ben Snook of Darlington is the brains behind Mobile Patient Notes, designed to be a new, faster way for clinicians to use an iPad or tablet make and manage their patient notes.

Mr Snook, from Darlington, has been working with the business support team at Newcastle Science City to develop his idea into a tablet application.

A beta version is due to be released for Android next month, with the full version and iPad app expected later this year.

Mr Snook first came up with idea when he was studying sport rehabilitation at Salford University in 2001, progressing the idea while working in sports rehabilitation at sports clubs across the country.

The software simplifies the way practitioners record their notes while assessing patients, in a bid to reduce the amount of time clinicians spend note-taking, therefore allow more time for patient interaction.

Unlike other text-based software currently on the market, Mobile Patient Notes is designed to allow clinicians to record assessments quickly and easily by using simple sliders, scroll bars and drop down menus.

This information is then stored on the software's secure, encrypted data servers and can be accessed from any tablet through the web-based server using the practitioner's security password.

Ben said: "This intuitive and paperless way of recording and accessing patient notes brings the world of physiotherapy up to date with advances in technology.

"It will save practitioners time and address security and privacy issues with the storage of notes.

"The tap and track system allows clinicians to be mobile as they can access their notes using wireless technology, and the patient histories timeline feature is especially useful in practices where more than one clinician may need to treat a patient."

Ivan Whitfield, Middlesbrough College lecturer who delivers degree level anatomy research and sports therapy at Teesside University, helped Mr Snook develop the technical and factual content to ensure the application would be targeted at addressing challenges faced by today's practitioners.

Mr Whitfield is among a series of clinicians trialling the beta version and has given the software a glowing recommendation.

"Modern professionals need modern approaches and MPNotes provides the most detailed and interactive platform available," he said.

"It also provides a thoroughly modern teaching tool. Lecturers can take advantage of the structured approach to the assessment process and students can practice sections at a time until they are confident in their understanding of the need for deep knowledge linking theory to practice."

Simon Green, head of business support at Newcastle Science City, said the application has an exciting future ahead of it.

"Having worked in the industry, Ben has real insight into the challenges faced by practitioners on a daily basis and has developed a practical solution to tackle some of these issues," said Mr Green.

"The beauty of Mobile Patient Notes is in its simplicity and its intuitive design is what will make it a real success."