Patient-Based Record Improves Quality, Safety and Efficiency
MADISON, N.J., July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedPlus, the healthcare
information technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:
DGX), today announced that NYCLIX is now sharing key patient data
electronically among ten unaffiliated healthcare organizations across New York
City using the company's Centergy(TM) suite of integrated health information
exchange (HIE) solutions. NYCLIX partner hospitals and physicians now have the
opportunity to enhance the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care by
accessing in real time clinical information using a patient-based record that
is accessible through interoperable hospital network and Electronic Health
Record (EHR) technologies.
NYCLIX partner healthcare institutions record 840,000 emergency visits
annually, as well as 470,000 discharges, 6.8 million outpatient visits and 5.9
million home visits. NYCLIX's vision is a healthcare system that facilitates
patients' access to care; improves quality, safety and efficiency; and
empowers consumers through improved access to information, all while
preserving patient privacy.
"Successful interoperability between various systems is key to a
large-scale HIE initiative such as ours," said Gilad J. Kuperman, MD, PhD,
chairman of the NYCLIX board and director of Interoperability Informatics at
New York-Presbyterian Hospital. "Our participating organizations include some
of the largest hospitals in the most populous American city, and between
inpatient and emergency department visits, account for more than a million
encounters annually. As a partner, MedPlus was instrumental in not only
interfacing a multitude of departmental and ancillary systems into a
centralized and easy-to-use frontend, but also in integrating the patient
matching capabilities required by such an enormous endeavor."
Centergy's clinician-friendly portal technology serves as a unified
frontend for more than 80 interfaced health information technology (HIT)
systems. Clinicians have access to a variety of patient information regardless
of treatment location, including registration data, lab results, past
diagnoses, clinical notes, medications, allergies, and procedure codes. In
addition, clinicians can connect to radiology, cardiology, pathology,
endoscopy and EKG reports.
"NYCLIX has taken a great step forward in bringing the next generation of
healthcare to the people of New York City," said Richard Mahoney, president of
MedPlus and vice president of Healthcare Information Solutions at Quest
Diagnostics. "Its seamless sharing of patient information among nine emergency
rooms, a large community health center and the nation's largest home care
agency can provide significant improvements to overall healthcare for its
patients, and serve as a model of interoperable HIT that can help improve
patient outcomes."
Centergy allows providers and institutions to connect to an existing,
proven network of easy-to-use solutions, and share comprehensive clinical
information in real-time across HIEs of any size or geographical scope.
MedPlus has connected more than 140,000 physicians, more than 85 EMR
applications and some of the nation's largest HIEs, including one-third of the
original Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) demonstration projects.
Centergy is linking nine emergency rooms at Beth Israel Medical Center,
St. Luke's-Roosevelt, NYU Medical Center, New York Presbyterian, Mount Sinai
Medical Center, St. Vincent Medical Center, Staten Island University Hospital
and SUNY Downstate. In addition, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and
the Institute for Family Health community health center are also contributing
and sharing data. NYCLIX is also providing data to the New York State
Department of Health for a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) sponsored project
that is examining how HIEs can be used to support biosurveillance and other
public health goals.
About the New York Clinical Information Exchange (NYCLIX, Inc.)
NYCLIX, Inc. is a New York State not-for-profit corporation whose mission
is to create a clinical data exchange capability to improve patient care in
the New York City region. NYCLIX's vision is a health care system in which
innovative models of care enabled by interoperability facilitate patients'
access to care, lead to improved quality, safety and efficiency of care, and
increase consumer empowerment though improved access to information, all while
preserving patient privacy. Incorporated in 2005, NYCLIX has received both
Federal and New York State grants to support its work. NYCLIX's current
membership includes 11 hospitals (8 of which are in Manhattan), the Visiting
Nurse Service of New York, a federally qualified health center, and a faculty
practice organization. NYCLIX leadership includes clinical, technical, and
informatics representatives from the largest provider organizations in New
York City, as well as representatives from the region's businesses, public
health departments, policy-making organizations, and consumer advocacy groups.
More information about NYCLIX can be found at www.nyclix.org.
About MedPlus
MedPlus, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the healthcare information
technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. MedPlus is a leading
developer and integrator of clinical connectivity and healthcare information
exchange solutions designed to foster better patient care and improve business
performance for healthcare institutions, physicians and patients. The
company's Centergy Clinical Portal & Data Exchange Engine and ChartMaxx(R)
solutions efficiently and securely collect, store, manage and integrate
clinical information within an organization, enterprise, practice or
community. Centergy enables clinicians to access patient data in a centralized
view aggregated from multiple care sites. ChartMaxx, the company's
award-winning electronic patient record system, has been implemented in more
than 120 hospitals and integrated healthcare delivery networks and has more
than 300,000 users. For more information, visit www.medplus.com.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services that patients and doctors need to make better
healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic
testing services through its network of laboratories and patient service
centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical
and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative
diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that
help improve patient care. Additional company information is available at
www.QuestDiagnostics.com.
Quest Diagnostics Contacts:
Barb Short (Media): 973-520-2800
Laure Park (Investors): 973-520-2900
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated