NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems and a provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, has signed an agreement with Mercy Health System (MHS) to deploy NextGen EHR (Electronic Health Record) and NextGensm Health Information Exchange (HIE).
MHS said that the implementation of NextGen EHR began in 2009 at several pilot physician sites, and usability surveys conducted at the first pilot location returned positive results. It also said that the clinicians experienced the immediate benefits of standardization and clarity in their data, and increased charge capture in their practices.
MHS said that the NextGen HIE is expected to be implemented starting third quarter 2010. In addition, the organization plans to engage in a beta project to build an interface between NextGen EHR and Keystone Mercy Health Plan so its providers can access payer data through an integrated payer/provider record.
Featuring pre-built clinical templates and workflow for more than 25 specialties, NextGen EHR provides complete, accurate documentation stored in a standard format. NextGen Healthcare’s EHR version 5.6 is a CCHIT Certified 2011 Ambulatory EHR, additionally certified for Child Health and Cardiovascular Medicine with Advanced Reporting.
NextGen Healthcare said that the product enables organizations to exchange the data even if they do not have an EHR system, resulting in truer continuity of care and advanced adoption of the patient-centered ‘medical home’ model a team-based, virtual network of doctors, nurses, and other providers that share information and responsibility for a patient to better coordinate his or her medical care.
Scott Decker, president of NextGen Healthcare, said: “Achieving a true ‘Patient-Centered Medical Home’ requires a transformational shift in thinking, from reactive to proactive care. NextGen has a proven track record for helping healthcare organizations use technology to realize this designation, and we’re confident our platform will provide the tools needed to empower MHS’ providers and patients.”
Christine Brutschea, CIO of Mercy Health System, said: “Automation and enhanced patient care is something we’ve always worked toward, and the ARRA accelerated our plans in that regard. Through use of the integrated NextGen platform, we will be able to leverage care coordination across our enterprise and bring our patients into the process by giving them access to data about their health, education materials and a way to communicate with their physicians.
“The technology will also enable us to take a leadership role in our community and our state as interoperability, patient-centered medical home and e-prescribing efforts continue to gain momentum.”