A widely-used online database of 5,600 medical experts is being opened up to claimants' solicitors. Alan Jacobs reports on its progress

DLA is set to launch an online medical reporting initiative that is claimed to save insurers hundreds of pounds per case.

The initiative is based on the company's Medical Experts Database Service (MEDS) which has been running for two years. In a forthcoming trial with an unnamed insurer, claimants' solicitors will be given restricted access to MEDS, so they can choose an expert who is already approved by the insurer.

The idea is that claimants' solicitors will be able to nominate an expert without going through a lengthy exchange of letters and telephone calls. DLA claims this could save both sides time and money. The initiative follows on from the launch of CVs online earlier this year.

There are currently extensive details of more than 5,600 medical experts on the database. These are continually updated by MEDS full-time database manager Diane Roedling.

MEDS is available to subscribing insurers, brokers and adjusters, being delivered from the internet via a secure website. The service deals with a recurring problem for insurers - what to do when a claimant nominates medical experts of whom there is no prior knowledge or experience. There are only 14 days to respond to the nomination. After this, one of the experts is automatically selected for the case. This is where MEDS can provide exactly the right kind of information needed by case handlers.

MEDS offers the following service:

  • Objective details on thousands of experts (and their number is continually growing).

  • Experts' CVs available online.

  • Registration of the user's own expert panel within the database.

  • Consistent and regular updating of all information within the database, including user's own panel, by full-time database manager.

  • National coverage.

  • Experts assessed by DLA.

  • Finder service by the database manager for experts not found on a search (usually same day service).

  • Extensive data fields, all fully searchable by name, address, geographical area, area of practice, specialism, whether or not on DLA core panel, whether on insurer or other core panel, waiting time for a report, fees and claimant/defendant split.

    MEDS has grown to a total of 48 corporate user accounts in over two years. MEDS will shortly reach a total of one million hits since its launch, (see above table). Some of the companies who are already enthusiastic full-time users of MEDS include: Admiral Insurance; Churchill Insurance; Halifax General Insurance; Legal & General; Royal & SunAlliance; Tesco,;Willis; and Zurich Commercial.

    Client testimonials
    "The MEDS database has proved extremely popular among our staff, everyone without exception singing its praises. To be able to go on to the net and choose an expert, not just in your area, but also in your specialised field is a very real benefit. Added to this is the knowledge of the split between claimant and defendant work, which is also helpful - more so when an opponent recommends an expert to you." - Ann McClure, Transcare Solutions.

    "DLA has allowed access to its medical database which has become essential to us." - David Berry, technical claims manager, Halifax General Insurance Services

    Alan Jacobs is a partner and location head for Birmingham insurance and creator of MEDS.For a copy of the MEDS guide or further information on DLA's medical experts service, please contact Alan Jacobs on 0121 262 5743, or via email on alan.jacobs@dla.com .

    Usage of the MEDS service
    Average site hits per week
    2000 - 5,163
    2001 - 9,200
    2002 - 13,814

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