EMR, EHR and Healthcare IT News

CITIUSTECH’S BI-CLINICAL RECEIVES 2014 ONC HIT CERTIFICATION

John — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:23:17 +0000

Princeton, NJ (June 18, 2013) – CitiusTech, a leading healthcare technology solutions and services provider, announced today that its healthcare BI and analytics platform, BI-Clinical, version 13.1 is compliant with the ONC 2014 Edition criteria and was certified as an EHR Module on 11 June, 2013 by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®), an ONC-ACB, inaccordance with the applicable Eligible Hospital certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The ONC 2014 Edition criteria supports both Stage 1 and 2 meaningful use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“CitiusTech is pleased to announce the ONC 2014 certification for the BI-Clinical platform,” says Rizwan Koita, Chief Executive Officer of CitiusTech. “With its modular, app-based architecture and flexible integration approach, BI-Clinical is well positioned to help EMR/EHR and other health IT vendors to attain Meaningful Use Stage 2 compliance rapidly and cost-effectively.”

The ONC HIT Certification Program certifies that Complete EHRs meet all of the 2014 Edition criteria and EHR Modules meet one or more – but not all – of the criteria approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for either eligible provider or hospital technology.

“CCHIT congratulates companies successfully achieving EHR technology certification,” said Alisa Ray, executive director, CCHIT. “These companies are now able to make their products available to providers wishing to adopt health IT to demonstrate meaningful use and earn federal incentives.”

BI-Clinical, version 13.1, certification number is CC-2014-449180-1. ONC HIT certification conferred by CCHIT does not represent an endorsement of the certified EHR technology by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

BI-Clinical version 13.1 meets the following certification criteria:

170.314(c)(1) Clinical Quality Measures – Capture and Export

170.314(c)(2) Clinical Quality Measures – Incorporate and Calculate

170.314(c)(3) Clinical Quality Measures – Electronic Submission

170.314(d)(1) – Authentication, access control, and authorization

170.314(d)(2) – Auditable events and tamper-resistance

170.314(d)(3) – Audit report(s)

170.314(d)(5) – Automatic log-off

170.314(d)(6) – Emergency access

170.314(d)(7) – End-user device encryption

170.314(d)(8) – Integrity

170.314(g)(4) – Quality management system

The clinical quality measures to which BI-Clinical has been certified include: CMS9v1,

CMS26v1, CMS30v2, CMS31v1, CMS32v1, CMS53v1, CMS55v1, CMS60v1, CMS71v2, CMS72v1, CMS73v1, CMS91v2, CMS100v1, CMS102v1, CMS104v1, CMS105v1, CMS107v1, CMS109v1, CMS110v1, CMS111v1, CMS114v1, CMS171v2, CMS172v2, CMS178v2, CMS185v1, CMS188v2, CMS108v1, CMS190v1.

The additional costs that an Eligible Hospital would pay to attempt to meet meaningful use objectives and measures include: license fees, implementation fees, subscription fees and professional services fees for integration.

About CitiusTech

CitiusTech is a specialist provider of healthcare technology services and solutions to healthcare IT vendors, providers, ACOs, and health plans. CitiusTech offers a wide range of healthcare technology services including healthcare software development, healthcare interoperability, Meaningful Use compliance, BI / analytics, care management and consumer health. CitiusTech brings strong healthcare domain expertise across technologies, applications and standards. CitiusTech delivers best in-class solutions with an unmatched cost advantage to global healthcare clients. For more information, visit www.citiustech.com.

About CCHIT

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®) is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the public mission of accelerating the adoption of robust, interoperable health information technology. The Commission has been certifying electronic health record technology since 2006 and is authorized by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a certification body (ONC-ACB). CCHIT is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a certification body for the ONC HIT Certification Program for electronic health record (EHR) technology and accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as an Accredited Testing Laboratory (ATL) to test EHRS. More information on CCHIT and its programs is available at http://cchit.org.

About the ONC HIT Certification Program

The ONC HIT Certification Program, provided by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®)” as an Office of the National Coordinator – Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB), evaluates EHR technology that has been tested against criteria and standards adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). This certification qualifies EHRs as capable of supporting achievement of meaningful use for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). ONC HIT certification conferred by the Certification Commission does not represent an endorsement of the certified EHR technology by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “CCHIT®” and “CCHIT Certified®” are registered trademarks of the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology.

St. Mary’s Healthcare System Selects iConnect(R) Access and iConnect Enterprise Archive

John — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:18:07 +0000

Vendor-Neutral Archive Consolidates Silos and Provides Access to Any Image, Anywhere, Any Time

CHICAGO, June 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Merge Healthcare Incorporated (Nasdaq:MRGE), a leading provider of clinical systems and innovations that seek to transform healthcare, today announced that St. Mary’s Healthcare System has selected Merge’s iConnect Access and iConnect Enterprise Archive to support their enterprise imaging strategy.

“Since we already use many Merge solutions including Merge PACS™, Merge Cardio™ and Merge Hemo™ across our enterprise, Merge’s iConnect Enterprise Archive was a natural extension of our long-standing partnership,” explained Brain Duncan, Manager of Radiology Services at St. Mary’s. “Furthermore, we selected Merge’s vendor-neutral archive because we believe that by using the information life cycle management polices within the enterprise archive, we will see extensive storage cost savings both now and well into the future.”

“Additionally, as we work closely with referring providers in the Athens area, we need to get data to others quickly and easily. Because iConnect Access is a zero-footprint, web-based viewer, referring physicians can view images anywhere, including on mobile devices, which has made my life a lot easier,” added Duncan. “Plus, iConnect Access image-enables our Meditech EMR to ensure that we’re ready to meet the Stage Two requirements of Meaningful Use.”

“We are pleased to see a longstanding client like St. Mary’s standardize on Merge solutions throughout their enterprise,” added Jeff Surges, CEO, Merge Healthcare. “The combination of iConnect Enterprise Archive and iConnect Access will further extend the value of their existing Merge solutions and ensure that their imaging strategy can scale to meet the growing needs for their owned and referring physician communities.”

Merge’s iConnect Enterprise Clinical Platform is the industry’s only comprehensive solution for collecting, archiving, viewing, sharing and exchanging any type of image, anywhere, any time. It includes iConnect Access*, a zero-download DICOM image and XDS server, iConnect Share, a gateway for image sharing across the enterprise and iConnect Enterprise Archive, a vendor-neutral archive (VNA) to create an enterprise imaging strategy. It works with existing applications, leveraging widely-used web and healthcare technology standards, to provide a vendor neutral interoperable environment.

A recent InMedica study reported iConnect Enterprise Archive as the world’s #1 VNA, storing over 15 billion images. As the industry’s first true standalone VNA, it has been successfully integrated with over seventy-five PACS vendors and specialty workstations at over 350 sites across the United States. In over half of the implementations, Merge’s customers have integrated third-party PACS with iConnect Enterprise Archive.

*iConnect Access is not FDA-cleared for diagnostic use on mobile devices.

About Merge Healthcare

Merge is a leading provider of clinical systems and innovations that seek to transform healthcare. Merge’s enterprise and cloud-based solutions for image intensive specialties provide access to any image, anywhere, any time. Merge also provides health stations, clinical trials software and other health data and analytics solutions that engage consumers in their personal health. With solutions that are used by providers and consumers and include more than 25 years of innovation, Merge is helping to reduce costs and improve the quality of healthcare worldwide. For more information, visit merge.com.

Colorado primary care and behavioral health integration project expands to Oregon

John — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:14:33 +0000

SHAPE’s global payment model supp

Grand Junction, Colo. and Bend Ore., June 18, 2013–Primary care and behavioral health transformation is taking SHAPE in Oregon and Colorado.

A western Colorado payment reform initiative to support integrated behavioral health in primary care settings will soon expand to Oregon. Colorado’s global payment model for primary care and behavioral health integration, known as SHAPE (Sustaining Healthcare Across integrated Primary care Efforts), is being implemented in Bend, Ore., and surrounding counties. In May, the Central Oregon Health Council, which provides governance for the region’s Care Coordination Organization, formally agreed to replicate the Colorado project.

SHAPE participants in both states will seek to rethink and re-envision the role of primary care and behavioral health as well as change how that innovative model is financially supported. The pilot includes primary care sites and payers that, on their own initiative, have taken steps toward integration that is “unfettered by fee-for-service,” said University of Colorado-Denver’s Benjamin F. Miller, PsyD, principal investigator. Miller is director of the Office of Integrated Healthcare Research and Policy at the UCD Department of Family Medicine.

“The current payment system creates disincentives for collaboration, communication and coordination among clinicians in multiple disciplines,” he said. “Treating behavioral health and physical health separately has resulted in poorer outcomes and higher costs. The body of evidence supporting integration of behavioral health in the primary care setting continues to grow.”[1],[2],[3]

SHAPE is already underway in western Colorado, with reformed payments from Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP). A partner in the Colorado Beacon demonstration, RMHP launched the innovative project with support from the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (www.CFHA.net) and the University of Colorado-Denver Department of Family Medicine in late 2012. Using new global payments from RMHP, pilot practices in Grand Junction and surrounding communities are working to test the impact of fully sustainable, comprehensive primary care that includes behavioral health care.

“The integration of primary care and behavioral health through SHAPE creates financial sustainability in western Colorado and will provide a tangible, replicable, scalable model for other communities,” said Miller. “There are many behavioral health integration projects around the country. What makes SHAPE different is the payment model. It’s impossible to fix the financial sustainability problem for integration in a per-procedure, fee-for-service environment. It takes something disruptive-a global payment system that will support comprehensive primary care that has integrated behavioral health.”

Miller is leading the evaluation of SHAPE, while RMHP’s payment demonstration provides insights for a growing learning network of collaborating leaders, providers and payers.

Oregon will be the first location outside Colorado to adopt the pilot. The state has been working on care coordination and behavioral health integration, and the SHAPE model, Miller said, “is a game changer.”

“This is common sense health care,” said Jim Diegel, president and CEO of St. Charles Health System and vice chair of the Central Oregon Health Council. “Not only will patients receive more comprehensive care, but also their visits will be paid as a global payment, circumventing potential problems with lack of coverage for behavioral health. This cutting-edge approach is a great example of what can be accomplished when providers and payers collaborate.”

Both the Colorado and Oregon programs hold great promise, with payer support and opportunities for cross-pollination. Miller expects the model to expand. It only makes sense, he said. “For both the patient and the provider, global payment allows for more flexibility and comprehensive addressing of whole person health. Providers are not trapped in a workflow designed to generate volume-based payments. Instead, the payment system supports integrated, coordinated, patient-centered care.”

[1] Butler M, et al. Integration of Mental Health/Substance Abuse and Primary Care No. 173. AHRQ Publication No. 09-E003. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. October 2008.

[2] Goddell S, et al. Mental Disorders and Medical Comorbidity, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Policy Brief, 2011.

[3] Kathol RG, et al. “Barriers to Physical and Mental Condition Integrated Service Delivery.” Psychosomatic Medicine. July/August 2010 72:511-518.

About the Colorado Beacon Consortium

The Colorado Beacon Consortium is made up of executive-level representation from four mission-driven, not-for-profit, Western Colorado-based organizations, all of which have nationally acknowledged track records of coordination to achieve superior outcomes. They are Mesa County Independent Physicians’ Practice Association, Quality Health Network, Rocky Mountain Health Plans and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The Colorado Beacon Consortium’s mission is to optimize the efficiency, quality and performance of our health care system, and integrate the delivery of care and use of clinical information to improve community health. The geographic focus of the Consortium’s activities includes the Colorado counties of Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Garfield, Gunnison, Pitkin and Rio Blanco. To learn more, visit www.coloradobeaconconsortium.org.

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras and Redmond, and leases and operates Pioneer Memorial Hospital. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 3,000 employees. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

orts comprehensive patient-centered care

SRS Is Among First EHRs to Achieve Certification for Stage 2 of Meaningful Use – See more at: http://srssoft.com/srs-is-among-first-ehrs-to-achieve-certification-for-stage-2-of-meaningful-use#sthash.lZjEVkYf.dpuf

John — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:11:38 +0000

SRS EHR v9 Awarded 2014 Edition Modular Certification

MONTVALE, NJ – June 17, 2013 – SRS, the leader in productivity-enhancing EHR technology and services for high-performance physicians, today announced that it has completed the first phase of certification for the 2014 Edition of the SRS EHR. Physicians will use the SRS EHR v9 to demonstrate meaningful use and qualify for the government’s EHR incentives for Stage 2—as well as Stage 1—effective 2014.

“As we did so successfully for Stage 1, SRS is addressing the increased demands of Stage 2 by enhancing our EHR software to provide our physicians with the tools needed to satisfy the requirements in a productivity-focused manner,” says Evan Steele, CEO of SRS. “The fact that we are among the first vendors to achieve certification is a testament to the talents of our highly skilled and hard-working development team and to our commitment to the maintenance of high-level, in-house expertise regarding meaningful use.”

“This accomplishment puts us well on our way in what will be a short journey toward complete certification,” says SRS Chief Software Architect Joseph Geretz. “Our 2014 certified EHR will empower our physicians with data management and interoperability features that will prepare them for continued success as providers of high-quality patient care.”

This EHR Module is 2014 Edition compliant and has been certified by Drummond Group, an ONC-ACB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the US Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments (SRSsoft, v9, Certification ID No. 06132013-1984-8, June 13, 2013).

About SRS
SRS is the leading provider of productivity-enhancing EHR technology and services for high-performance physicians—with a successful adoption rate unparalleled in the industry. Offered via the Unified Desktop™, the robust SRS EHR, PM, PACS, Patient Portal, and Transcription increase speed and efficiency, boost revenue, free physicians’ time, and enhance patient care and satisfaction. For more information on SRS, visit www.srssoft.com, e-mail info@srssoft.com, fax 201.802.1301, or call 800.288.8369.

About Drummond Group Inc.
Drummond Group Inc. is a global software test and certification lab that serves a wide range of vertical industries. In healthcare, Drummond Group tests and certifies Controlled Substance Ordering Systems (CSOS); Electronic Prescription of Controlled Substances (EPCS) software and processes; and Electronic Health Records (EHRs)— positioning the trusted test lab as the only third-party certifier of all three initiatives designed to move the industry toward a digital future. Founded in 1999, and accredited for the Office of the National Coordinator HIT Certification Program as an Authorized Certification Body (ACB) and an Authorized Test Lab (ATL), Drummond Group continues to build upon its deep experience and expertise to deliver reliable and cost-effective services. For more information, please visit http://www.drummondgroup.com or e-mail DGI@drummondgroup.com.

- See more at: http://srssoft.com/srs-is-among-first-ehrs-to-achieve-certification-for-stage-2-of-meaningful-use#sthash.lZjEVkYf.dpuf

Explorys Selected as Top Workplace by The Plain Dealer

John — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:08:54 +0000

Leader in Big Data-Driven Healthcare Transformation Named as a Top Workplace in Employee-Led Survey

Cleveland, OH, June 18, 2013— Explorys, the leader in big data-driven healthcare transformation, today announced that it was selected as a 2013 Top Workplace by The Plain Dealer. The Cleveland Plain Dealer Top Workplace program recognizes companies that provide engaging, rewarding, and exciting work environments. This year’s list includes 100 companies in three categories.

The Top Workplaces are determined solely on employee feedback. The employee survey is conducted by WorkplaceDynamics, LLP, a leading independent research firm on organizational health and employee engagement. WorkplaceDynamics conducts regional Top Workplaces programs with 37 major publishing partners and recognizes a list of 150 National Top Workplaces.

Explorys, an innovation spin-off of the Cleveland Clinic, has gained significant momentum over the past 12 months, adding four new customers to its national network which currently consists of 14 IDNs, 200 hospitals, and over 100,000 providers, making Explorys’ Network the largest healthcare big data compilation in the world. This vast amount of data provides healthcare organizations the ability to identify and measure trends, assess risk, and predict outcomes to drive quality care at lower costs.

“This recognition by the Plain Dealer is a testament to the hard work and tireless efforts of Explorys’ employees,” stated Explorys President and Chief Strategy Officer, Charlie Lougheed. “As a result of changes brought about by healthcare reform, the healthcare industry has an amplified interest in the area of big data, and as such, Explorys has realized unprecedented growth. Attracting and retaining top talent is a critical success factor for Explorys and our team continues to prove that innovation isn’t only for Silicon Valley—it is happening right here in Cleveland.”

Today, Explorys employs approximately 100 people, and expects to continue growing in the coming year. Recruiting from Silicon Valley, the East Coast, and the Midwest, Explorys seeks candidates with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Employees at Explorys range from recent college graduates, to industry leaders with years of healthcare and IT experience. Explorys offers countless benefits to its team members including company-sponsored fitness programs and an innovative program called “Ten Time” that encourages associates to apply up to 10 percent of their paid time to other interests outside of the company.

“Working at Explorys is a great opportunity to contribute to the exciting changes that are happening in healthcare right now,” said Ebony Johnson, Data Curation and Content Developer at Explorys. “I really enjoy working for a company that encourages professional and personal development. Never before have I been a part of such a lively, collaborative office environment that inspires further education and innovative thinking.”

The Plain Dealer published the complete list of Top Workplaces on June 16th. For more information about the Top Workplaces lists and WorkplaceDynamics, please visit www.topworkplaces.com and www.workplacedynamics.com.

About Explorys

Founded in 2009 as an innovation spinoff from Cleveland Clinic, Explorys provides the healthcare industry’s first secure, cloud-based Enterprise Performance Management platform that leverages BIG DATA to transform healthcare. While applying the power of massively-parallel data processing, its comprehensive network enables the nation’s leading provider organizations to more effectively leverage their data to drive value-based care and Population Health Management results utilizing both business and clinical intelligence, and meaningful performance evaluation. The Explorys network is made up of over 107 billion data elements encompassing 40 million patients, 200 hospitals, and 14 major integrated healthcare systems with over 100,000 providers who collectively deliver $46 billion of care annually. Deploying solutions comprised of expert resources and exceptional tools, Explorys unlocks the power of BIG DATA to improve healthcare for everyone. www.explorys.com

WellStar Health System Selects Avantas for Healthcare Enterprise Labor Management Solution

John — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:41:07 +0000

Five-Hospital System and Associated Medical Group to Deploy Avantas’ Consulting Services and Technology to Transform Labor Management Practices, Optimize Operating Budgets

OMAHA, Neb. – June 17, 2013 – Avantas, a leading provider of strategic labor management technology, services and strategies for the healthcare industry, today announced that WellStar Health System (WellStar), has selected its consulting services and patented labor management software, Smart Square®, in an effort to improve labor performance for the entire WellStar system, starting with its 124 nursing units.

Under the terms of this agreement, WellStar will adopt Avantas’ proven HELM™ (healthcare enterprise labor management) methodology, allowing the organization to integrate labor resources across its five hospitals and medical group, which is made up of more than 500 primary care providers, specialists, and advanced practitioners. WellStar will also implement Avantas’ Smart Square technology, the healthcare industry’s only comprehensive labor management solution developed by healthcare professionals for healthcare professionals. This technology will provide a transparent view of staffing, scheduling, and productivity at the enterprise level. Smart Square is planned to go live in July 2013.

WellStar will implement Avantas’ business intelligence tools and Smart Square dashboards across its five acute care hospitals and more than 100 medical group practice locations, providing in-depth analysis of the entire system’s labor workforce and operational practices. This includes identifying utilization trends, designing strategies based on demand information, outlining the workforce demographic, identifying trends in staff dissatisfiers, and quantifying high-margin opportunities.

“We will be working with WellStar over the next 18 months to optimize the impact of our work strategies and software across 124 nursing departments, which will allow for a single, enterprise-wide view of labor resources,” said Chris Fox, CEO, Avantas. “WellStar is a leading healthcare organization and its selection of Avantas after visiting one of our client sites is a real testament to the capabilities of both our HELM methodology and our labor management IT solution, which truly transforms the labor management process.”

HELM represents a disruptive innovation for the healthcare industry, challenging organizations to rethink what is possible with regard to labor management in all departments. The approach is comprehensive and sophisticated – combining the science of workforce planning, demand forecasting, operational best practices, and a complete set of scheduling and staffing tools. Avantas has leveraged unique client experiences across provider organizations of all sizes to detail effective methodologies that help organizations rise above departmental silos and implement a consistent and effective way to integrate labor across the enterprise.

To learn more about Avantas’ HELM-based consulting services and view a demonstration of its industry-leading patented labor management solution, please visit booth #600 at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) 2013 National Institute at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL from June 16 – 19, 2013.

About WellStar Health System
Recognized as the fifth most integrated healthcare delivery system in the country, WellStar Health System is the largest not-for-profit health system in Georgia and serves a population of nearly 1.3 million residents in five counties. The vision of WellStar is to deliver world-class healthcare. A national leader in the transformation of healthcare delivery, WellStar launched two initiatives in late 2012 – the Center for Health Transformation and the Georgia Health Collaborative – that will have far reaching effects on healthcare both locally and nationally. WellStar includes WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center (anchored by WellStar Kennestone Hospital) and WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals; the WellStar Medical Group; Urgent Care Centers; Acworth Health Park; Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing Center; and the WellStar Foundation. For more information, call 770-956-STAR or visit wellstar.org.

About Avantas
Developers of the HELMTM methodology (healthcare enterprise labor management), Avantas is devoted to serving the healthcare industry. Its proprietary approach to managing labor consists of consulting services and a scheduling and productivity solution, Smart Square. This comprehensive approach provides its clients with tailored best practice labor management strategies designed to drive substantial and sustaining cost and quality improvements across the enterprise through automation. For more information, please visit the Avantas website at www.Avantas.com.

Ingenious Med Integrates Health Language to Enhance ICD-9 and ICD-10 Search

John — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:08:41 +0000

Provider of the nation’s largest charge capture solution chooses Health Language to improve code search functionality

ATLANTA – June 13, 2013 – Ingenious Med, Inc., the nation’s largest point of care charge capture solution, has announced the integration of Health Language^® from Wolters Kluwer Health to support its code search engine. The update will be another step toward creating a robust solution for the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 on Oct. 1, 2014, which will increase the number of codes a physician must use from 13,000 to 65,000.

“We are taking our best-in-class code search functionality and making it even better with the best code data in the industry from Health Language,” said Hart Williford, president and CEO of Ingenious Med. “We know that our clients need a strong partner to help each of them successfully transition to ICD-10, and their success is our top priority.”

With Health Language, Ingenious Med will be able to help physicians reach the best billable code, based on documentation, in the quickest manner possible. Code validation and crosswalking capabilities will be built in.

After delaying the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 several times, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is holding firm on its Oct. 1, 2014 date. CMS has assured the industry that there will be no more delays and that all organizations must be ready.

“The healthcare industry’s critical transition to the modern ICD-10 coding system is a massive undertaking that is expected to impact nearly every aspect of hospital operations,” said Brian McDonald, executive vice president, Health Language, Wolters Kluwer Health, Clinical Solutions. “We are pleased Ingenious Med has chosen Health Language to provide the tools it needs to navigate this complex process.”

About Ingenious Med

Founded in 1999 by a group of practicing physicians, Ingenious Med is an award-winning point of care platform that automates the activities of 25,000 inpatient and outpatient physician in the nation’s leading healthcare facilities. The mobile and cloud-based charge capture and analytics platform provides real-time data that helps hospital systems and physician groups improve physician productivity and efficiency, enhance quality of care, maximize revenue, increase billing accuracy and ensure compliance. For more information, visit www.ingeniousmed.com or call 404-815-0862.

About Health Language
Health Language^® provides leading healthcare terminology management solutions and professional services that normalize all data within a healthcare organization into standardized code sets such as ICD-10, SNOMED CT^® and LOINC^®. By establishing a data infrastructure in which disparate information is fully integrated, the advanced Language Engine (LE) and supporting tools enable healthcare providers and payers worldwide to simplify the management and analysis of critical patient, financial and operational information. This, backed by a team of HIM experts that support the integration process, helps hospitals, health systems and other healthcare organizations to overcome industry challenges such as Meaningful Use, ICD-10 and health information exchange.

Health Language is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2012 annual revenues of €3.6 billion ($4.6 billion).

CareCloud EHR Raises $20 Million

John — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:28:18 +0000

MIAMI–(BUSINESS WIRE)– CareCloud, the fastest-growing provider of cloud-based practice management, electronic health records (EHR), and medical billing software and services, today announced it has secured $20 million in Series B financing. The funds will fuel the Company’s continued aggressive growth across all business functions, with a focus on product development while also bolstering sales and marketing capabilities. The funding round was led by Tenaya Capital and included existing investors Intel Capital and Norwest Venture Partners. This round brings CareCloud’s total funding to $44 million. Stewart Gollmer, Tenaya Capital’s Managing Partner, will join CareCloud’s Board of Directors.

“Most of the U.S. healthcare system is shackled with decades-old technology that will hinder us from improving patient care or delivering on cost containment efforts in a rapidly-changing environment of reform,” said Albert Santalo, CareCloud’s Chairman and CEO. “This investment validates CareCloud’s mission to aim at the heart of the challenge by leveraging the power of the cloud to foster innovation and ultimately replatform the industry. I am very pleased to welcome Tenaya Capital to our strong base of investors.”

CareCloud’s cloud-based platform now powers close to 3,000 providers in 45 states as medical groups look to improve their operational and clinical outcomes amidst a rapidly changing healthcare reimbursement environment. CareCloud manages more than $2 billion in annualized accounts receivables on behalf of its clients leveraging its cloud-based revenue cycle management service. The Company’s award-winning platform currently supports more than 5 million unique patients that will be increasingly engaged through the Company’s CareCloud Communityoffering that allows for greater care coordination and is the cornerstone of CareCloud’s vision to be the industry’s Single Log In for Healthcare.

“Technology will play an increasingly significant role in the transformation of how healthcare is delivered and paid for in this country. It’s clear that the current solutions are either decades old client-server technology or outdated web-based architecture,” said Gollmer. “CareCloud and its modern platform represent a tremendous opportunity to bridge the technology gap that plagues the healthcare ecosystem. We are excited to invest in CareCloud and feel that the company represents a powerful combination of industry-leading vision and exemplary execution, driven by a remarkable team.”

Physicians See Better Billing, Technology As Keys To Higher Performance

The May 2013 Practice Profitability Index (PPI), which serves as an annual barometer for the operational wellbeing of U.S. medical groups in the year ahead, surveyed more than 5,000 physicians across the nation and uncovered a downward trend in profitability for the year ahead, which is driving a growing “rip and replace” market for technology. It found that, of the 41% of practices with specific plans aimed at operational improvements in the coming year, the main interventions are: implementing a new EHR (41%), replacing their existing EHR (25%), outsourcing billing/collections (18%) and replacing their practice management system (16%). Furthermore, the majority of physicians (52%) are uncertain if their practice management systems will accommodate regulatory changes in the year ahead. The complete 2013 PPI findings can be accessed at www.poweryourpractice.com/PPI.

Tenaya Capital is a leading venture capital firm with a history of investing in disruptive and category-leading companies including HubSpot, Zuora, RightScale, and Zappos. Intel Capital and Norwest Venture Partners led CareCloud’s $20.1 million Series A funding in September of 2011.

About Tenaya Capital

Tenaya Capital is a leading venture capital firm with offices in Woodside, California, and Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1995 as Lehman Brothers Venture Partners, they became an independent company in 2009. Over the years they’ve raised five funds representing over $1 billion of committed capital, investing it in a wide range of high-growth technology companies including software, consumer Internet, communications, semiconductors, electronics, and cleantech. For more information visit www.tenayacapital.com

About CareCloud

CareCloud is a leading provider of cloud-based practice management, electronic health record (EHR) and medical billing software and services for medical groups. The company’s products are connecting providers to one another – and to their patients – through a fully integrated digital healthcare ecosystem that can be accessed on any browser or device.

CareCloud is helping thousands of physicians to increase collections, streamline operations and improve patient care in over 45 states and currently manages over $2 billion in annualized accounts receivables on behalf of its revenue cycle management clients. To learn more about CareCloud, please visit www.carecloud.com.

CareCloud Appoints Tom Cady as Vice President of Professional Services; Supporting Record Growth With Enhanced Implementation and Training Capabilities

John — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:37:52 +0000

Brings Close to 30 Years of Executive Management Experience in Consulting, Professional Services, and Sales in the Healthcare Technology Industry to Further CareCloud’s Market Momentum

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– CareCloud, a leading provider of cloud-based practice management, electronic health records (EHR), and medical billing software and services, today announced that the Company has hired Tom Cady as its new Vice President of Professional Services. Mr. Cady will be responsible for managing CareCloud’s client implementation and training teams – an essential pillar in powering the Company’s more than 100% year-over-year revenue growth while continuing to enhance customer experience and success. Mr. Cady brings close to 30 years of executive management experience in consulting and professional services, sales and client service in the healthcare industry. He joins CareCloud as a member of its senior leadership team and will report to Albert Santalo, CareCloud’s Chairman and CEO, and will be based in the Company’s Boston office.

“Tom is quite simply the very best professional services executive in the healthcare IT industry and I could not be more thrilled to have him join CareCloud as we continue to scale our national cloud-based platform and streamline the way medical groups leverage our applications and services,” said Mr. Santalo. “The onboarding of clients onto our platform and subsequent training efforts is often the first and most important interaction any client experiences, setting the tone for the long-term relationship. Making sure we have the industry’s very best professional service capabilities and leadership is critical for us continuing to achieve such high client retention, satisfaction, and consistent revenue growth.”

“I have had the privilege to work with some amazing organizations and individuals throughout my time in the healthcare technology industry, while also being part of truly disruptive business models along the way,” said Mr. Cady. “Given the challenges facing the industry, it’s clear that cloud-based technologies are the logical option for helping medical practices optimize their financial and clinical operations. CareCloud, with its modern design, architecture, and workflow automation stands to disrupt how physicians and their staff use technology and I am excited to join such a vibrant and innovative culture.”

Mr. Cady joined CareCloud from athenahealth, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHN), a provider of web-based software and services to medical groups, holding numerous executive positions over his eleven years at the company. During the last half of his tenure at athenahealth, Mr. Cady led the growth and scaling of the professional services department. Under his leadership, the organization grew in both staff and annual revenue implemented by over 500%. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Cady also served as the athenahealth’s Regional Vice President of Sales. He was a key member of the sales leadership team that drove the Company’s revenue growth from $8 million to $117 million.

Prior to athenahealth, Mr. Cady spent more than seventeen years at IDX Corporation, a provider of software solutions for integrated healthcare delivery systems, group practices, and managed care organizations, that was purchased by GE Healthcare in 2006. During his tenure at IDX, Tom led the implementation organization of the company’s largest division and also built and expanded the company’s consulting practice into a $20 million business unit.

Mr. Cady holds a BS in Management from Bentley University.

About CareCloud

CareCloud is helping thousands of providers increase collections, streamline operations and improve patient care in more than 45 states. The company received over $20 million in Series A funding from Intel Capital and Norwest Venture Partners in 2011. To learn more about CareCloud, please visit www.carecloud.com.

Vitera Healthcare Solutions Announces Acquisition of SuccessEHS

John — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:07:32 +0000

Leading ambulatory EHR/PM provider accelerates growth strategy and further supports the needs of today’s medical providers

Tampa, Florida – June 17, 2013 – Vitera Healthcare Solutions, the nation’s premier provider of ambulatory electronic health records (EHR) and practice management software and services, today announced the acquisition of SuccessEHS. The acquisition results in an expanded suite of services that helps office-based physicians and Community Health Centers (CHC) improve operational efficiencies, generate revenue and enhance patient health outcomes.

Pending customary regulatory approval, the Birmingham, AL-based SuccessEHS will become a division of Vitera.

SuccessEHS provides EHR, practice management, electronic dental record, dental imaging and revenue cycle management solutions, and prides itself on providing exceptional implementation services, training and support to its physician practices and CHCs. Due to the strong demand for its services, the company has doubled in size over the last two years.

“Our acquisition of SuccessEHS supports our strategy for growth in the changing healthcare marketplace and is indicative of the tremendous progress Vitera has made over the past 18 months,” said Matthew Hawkins, CEO of Vitera. “The acquisition is a natural progression of Vitera’s strategic intent to be the leader in ambulatory healthcare information technology. We are committed to providing the solutions and services our customers need to succeed in this new era of healthcare.”

With the addition of SuccessEHS’s customer base, Vitera will now serve more than 10,500 medical organizations and over 415,000 medical professionals nationwide — including more than 85,000 physicians. The acquisition expands Vitera’s customer base of CHCs, including rural health centers, student health centers, HIV/AIDS clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), as well as expands Vitera’s expertise in delivering solutions that meet the unique needs of these customers.

“This acquisition is going to bring out the best of both organizations,” said W. Sanders Pitman, CEO of SuccessEHS. “This is great news for our employees and for our customers. It allows us to build on Vitera’s longevity and growing strength in the industry, as well as the impressive infrastructure they’ve put in place to provide medical practices and CHCs with innovative EHR and practice management solutions. This helps us better realize our original mission — to make our customers successful.”

Leveraging its 30 years’ experience in a dynamic healthcare market and its large, loyal customer base, Vitera recently introduced new products — including Vitera Stat and Vitera Intergy Mobile — to help its customers decrease costs, increase reimbursements and revenue, save time and expense with regulatory reporting, and improve patient outcomes and population health.

Hawkins added, “We work every day to ensure our clients have the proven technology and quality support they need to better manage their practices, as well as access to the kind of industry insight that only comes from decades of dedicated service to practices like their own.”

Raymond James Health Care Investment Banking Group served as exclusive financial advisor to SuccessEHS in the transaction. Jefferies Finance LLC and BMO Capital Markets have agreed to provide the debt financing in connection with the transaction.

About Vitera Healthcare Solutions
Vitera Healthcare Solutions provides end-to-end clinical and financial technology solutions so physicians and medical professionals can work with patients instead of paperwork. Serving more than 400,000 healthcare professionals including 80,000 physicians, Vitera Healthcare Solutions provides electronic health records and practice management systems, processes 33 million transactions and 2 million e-prescriptions monthly, and serves several specialties including primary care, OB/GYN, pediatrics, cardiology and orthopedics in all sized practices and Community Health Centers. Physician focused and patient centric, Vitera Healthcare Solutions is based in Tampa, FL. For more information, visitwww.viterahealthcare.com or call (877) 932-6301. Follow Vitera Healthcare Solutions on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/ViteraHealthcare, and Twitter,http://twitter.com/#!/ViteraHealth.

About SuccessEHS
SuccessEHS is a nationally acclaimed vendor providing Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Practice Management solutions with Integrated Medical Billing Services. SuccessEHS also provides Electronic Dental Record (EDR) and Dental Imaging solutions. Founded in 1995, SuccessEHS established itself as a leader in the emerging practice management applications market by delivering an innovative blend of clinical, operational and financial software paired with a suite of specialized integrated success services.