Home » Archives for August 2016

• Agfa HealthCare’s Enterprise Imaging Platform Selected by The University of Mississippi Medical Cente

  Platform offers modular solution for broad range of needs for enterprise-wide image management

  MORTSEL, BELGIUM/GREENVILLE, SC –  August 30, 2016 — 

  • Enterprise Imaging consolidates imaging data from multiple service lines and provides secure access to a patient’s
    medical images, in one view, accessible ‘anywhere, anytime’.
  • The agreement includes Agfa’s Enterprise Imaging platform, including Enterprise Imaging Vendor-Neutral Archive,
    XERO® image viewer and Image Exchange.
  • A growing list of customers choose Agfa’s platform for its “more than a VNA” capabilities.

  Agfa HealthCare recently signed an agreement with an additional academic medical center that will build its imaging management strategy on Agfa’s Enterprise Imaging platform. The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) will implement a comprehensive suite of software solutions from Agfa’s Enterprise Imaging platform, allowing the health system to consolidate medical images, hardware and storage, and enable clinicians to share access and visualize imaging data, no matter where they physically practice medicine. This functionality helps create an image-enhanced patient record that supports clinician decision-making, and sets the stage to better quality and value-based healthcare.

  UMMC sought to upgrade and enhance a variety of medical imaging applications and functions across its five hospitals and related physician practices. After carefully researching product offerings and interoperability capabilities, UMMC determined that Agfa’s Enterprise Imaging platform would become the foundation for an imaging strategy that not merely captures images, but makes those images a true organizational asset.

  Most importantly, Agfa’s solutions enable images to be securely made available across a geographically disparate health system. Point-of-care images are available in real-time, which is a significant benefit for a busy Trauma I hospital such as UMMC. Agfa’s Enterprise Imaging modular approach is attractive to health systems such as UMMC, as it allows for readily deployed enhancements in the future as required by the organization’s multi-specialty needs and strategy, targeted at specific clinical use cases and deployed at the hospital’s own pace

  The Agfa HealthCare Enterprise Imaging platform creates a comprehensive imaging ecosystem that enables images, from anywhere, to be available to all involved caregivers across the care continuum. For example, the Agfa HealthCare platform can make TAVR and echocardiograph imaging swiftly available across the enterprise. Not only does this support the fast-paced work of the trauma center, but it also supports the needs of the hospital’s transplant program

  UMMC has contracted for the following Agfa solutions:

  • Enterprise Imaging Vendor-Neutral Archive (VNA) – consolidates imaging data from multiple systems,
    departments, facilities and vendors into a central clinical data foundation
  • Enterprise Imaging Exchange – allows fast, secure, reliable transfer of patient studies, without time-consuming
    CDs or DVDs.
  • Web-based XERO® universal image viewer – provides secure access to DICOM and non-DICOM imaging data
    from different departments and multiple sources, in one view, to anyone inside and outside of the hospital who needs it.

  “The spirit of our relationship with UMMC is to assure their clinicians have swift access to clinical imaging and multimedia content to bring clinical value and gain efficiency across all care settings,” says Frank Pecaitis, Senior Vice President, North America Sales at Agfa HealthCare. “We are thrilled that UMMC selected us and in doing so recognized that Agfa’s Enterprise Imaging platform will enable them to lower cost by consolidating their IT infrastructure while making valuable clinical information an organizational asset to all necessary stakeholders.”

  UMMC, located in Jackson, is the state’s only academic health science center. Three specialized hospitals on the Jackson campus include the only children’s hospital in Mississippi, a women and infants’ hospital, and a critical care hospital, along with the University Hospital. UMMC offers the only Level I trauma center, the only Level IV neonatal intensive care nursery, and the only organ transplant programs in the state. University Physicians, the faculty group practice of the School of Medicine, includes approximately 500 doctors who care for patients in locations around the state. UMMC includes two community hospitals, UMMC Holmes County and UMMC Grenada.  Its annual budget of more than $1.6 billion represents 2 percent of the state’s economy.

  About Agfa
  The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world’s leading companies in imaging and information technology. Agfa develops manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa HealthCare), and for specific industrial applications (Agfa Materials). Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries around the globe

  About UMass Memorial Health Care
  UMass Memorial Health Care is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts with more than 12,900 employees and 1,670 physicians, many of whom are members of UMass Memorial Medical Group. Their member hospitals and entities include Clinton Hospital, HealthAlliance Hospital, Marlborough Hospital, UMass Memorial Medical Center and Community Healthlink, their behavioral health agency. With their teaching and research partner, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, their extensive primary care network and their cancer, diabetes, heart and vascular, and musculoskeletal programs, UMass Memorial delivers safe, high-quality and compassionate care. Call 855-UMASS-MD (855-862-7763) for all your health care needs. Visit umassmemorialhealthcare.org.

  About Agfa HealthCare
  Agfa HealthCare, present in one hospital out of two, is a leading provider of eHealth & Digital Imaging solutions. Care organizations in over 100 countries rely on Agfa HealthCare to optimize their efficiency and improve patient care.

  For more information on Agfa HealthCare, please visit agfahealthcare.com or the Agfa HealthCare Blog For images, courtesy of Agfa HealthCare, please visit agfahealthcare/resources
  Follow them on Twitter
  
  AGFA, the AGFA rhombus and XERO are trademarks of Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Belgium or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

  All information contained herein is intended for guidance purposes only, and characteristics of the products and services described in this publication can be changed at any time without notice. Products and services may not be available for your local area. Please contact your local sales representative for availability information. Agfa HealthCare diligently strives to provide as accurate information as possible, but shall not be responsible for any typographical error.

  Only the English version of this press release is legally valid. The versions in other languages only represent a translation of the original English version.

  Posted 8.30.2016

• Nordic recognized as top performer in KLAS optimization report

  MADISON, WI – August 29, 2016 — Among healthcare IT consulting firms, Nordic’s Optimization Solutions has been recognized as a top performer in terms of producing the highest positive impact on efficiency and outcomes with over 80 percent of clients reporting a significant positive impact, according to the new KLAS report, Optimization Services 2016 Driving Outcomes from Implementation to Performance Improvement, which was released last week.

  Nordic has a rating of 92.9 for overall performance, and no other firm has more than its 13 validated client engagements in the report. In addition, Nordic scored 92.3 in the Revenue Cycle category and, with limited data, posted a score of 94.2 in Clinical Optimization.

  Nordic’s Optimization Solutions brings a unique, repeatable ROI-driven approach that offers clients EHR system assessments and recommendations to help organizations identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement. With industry-leading operational and Epic system experts, Nordic consultants are able to implement those recommendations for real, measurable outcomes.

  “Nordic came back with the finding that we were pretty far behind, and there were lots of opportunities to improve with all of the latest and greatest functionality from Epic,” one client said in the report. “We hired Nordic for an optimization project to go through almost every module from Epic. Nordic led the work and had many of their employees here. That was very successful. Nordic did an excellent job.”

  Once again, Nordic is recognized as a trusted healthcare partner as all respondents stated that Nordic avoids nickel-and-diming and that they would buy from Nordic again.

  “As many organizations have been live on Epic for years now, they know there are opportunities for improvement, but struggle to prioritize with ROI in mind,” Nordic VP of Business Line Development Matt Schaefer said. “We’re glad to be able to partner with organizations to provide our clients with a predictable, collaborative approach that we tailor to each healthcare group based on their priorities.”

  Contact
  Scott Gierman
  Marketing Manager
  Office: 608.395.6985
  Cell: 618.694.9107

   

  Posted 8.30.2016

• Impact Advisors Ranked Among Modern Healthcare’s Largest Healthcare Management Consulting Firms

  Firm named to list for second year in a row

  CHICAGO, IL – August 29, 2016 — Impact Advisors, LLC, a leading provider of healthcare information technology services, announced today that it has been ranked among Modern Healthcare’s Largest Healthcare Management Consulting Firms. The firm is ranked seventeenth out of more than 40 firms recognized. This is Impact Advisors’ second appearance on the list which ranks firms by 2015 revenue from total healthcare consulting fees.

  “We are proud to be recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s Largest Healthcare Management Consulting Firms,” said Peter Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Impact Advisors. “This is a challenging, yet exciting time as the market shifts from large system implementation to solution optimization and from volume to value models. We are eager, passionate and excited to partner with healthcare organizations as they are starting to realize that leveraging data will be the key to meeting their needs and priorities.”

  Impact Advisors is solving the toughest challenges in healthcare information technology by delivering strategic advisory, implementation and optimization services with a commitment to high-quality, value-driven outcomes. With proven technology enabled process improvement, the firm works closely with clients to enhance patient care in the communities they serve.

  Impact Advisors has been recognized a number of times by Modern Healthcare for its culture and business success over the last year. Last month, Impact Advisors was named to Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare list for the seventh consecutive year and the firm was also ranked #18 among Modern Healthcare’s Largest Revenue Cycle Management Firms.

  For more information on Impact Advisors, visit impact-advisors.com or visit the company on Facebook facebook.com/impactadvisors.

  About Impact Advisors, LLC
  Impact Advisors is a nationally recognized healthcare information technology consulting firm that is solving some of the toughest challenges in the industry by delivering strategic advisory, implementation and optimization services. Their comprehensive suite of patient access, clinical and revenue cycle services span the lifecycle of their clients’ needs. Their experienced team has a powerful combination of clinical, revenue, operations, consulting, and IT experience. The firm has earned a number of prestigious industry and workplace awards including Best in KLAS® for eight consecutive years, Healthcare Informatics HCI 100, Crain’s Chicago Business Fast Fifty, as well as “best place to work” awards from: Modern Healthcare, Consulting Magazine, Becker’s Hospital Review and Achievers. For more information about Impact Advisors, visit impact-advisors.com. 

  Karli Smith
  Director
  Chartwell Agency
  www.chartwell-agency.com
  120 W. State St.| Suite 305| Rockford, IL 61101
  Direct: 815.977.5343 | Cell: 815.985.4129
  Rockford: 815.282.9976| Madison: 608.239.0745
  Quad Cities: 309.738.1662

  Posted 8.30.2016

• CHIME & OpenNotes Partnership: The Open Patient film promotes Healing Through Sharing

  The Open Patient: Healing Through Sharing

  		The Open Patient tells the story of two brain cancer patients who, by accessing and sharing their medical data, are turning their crises into a movement. Through their advocacy for open healthcare data standards- along with the innovative work of the OpenNotes organization- millions of patients can take control of their healthcare. This is the latest film from Open Source Stories, a series that highlights how values like meritocracy, collaboration, and transparency are changing the ways we live and work.
  Video courtesy of OpenNotes	by

  OpenNotes & CHIME CHIME and OpenNotes are working together to accelerate information sharing between patients and providers. The collaboration with OpenNotes continues CHIME’s efforts to improve information exchange across the healthcare continuum, including advancing interoperability and ensuring the accuracy of patient identification. Learn more

  Posted 8.24.2016

• CynergisTek Ranks #512 on Inc. 5000; Number One Healthcare Security Vendor on List

  Healthcare IT Privacy & Security Firm is Included on List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies for Third Consecutive Year

  AUSTIN, TX – August 24, 2016 — CynergisTek™, an authority in health information security, privacy and compliance, today announced it was ranked as the 512th fastest-growing private company in the US on the annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking published by Inc. Magazine. This marks the third consecutive year the company has made this list, rising from number 941 in 2015 and 2252 in 2014. This year, CynergisTek is the highest ranked healthcare security company on the list, and is the eighth highest overall security vendor.

  “We are honored to once again be included on the Inc. 5000, jumping almost halfway up the 2015 list from our position in 2014, and even more so from 2013,” said Dr. Michael Mathews, Chief Operating Officer of CynergisTek. “Climbing very close the top 10 percent of this prestigious list demonstrates how CynergisTek continues to over perform year after year. We credit this growth to high demand for third party support in the increasingly complex regulatory landscape and the recent spike in sophisticated threats to healthcare data.”

  In addition to ascending the Inc. 5000, CynergisTek is also the highest ranked company on the list that solely provides services. Specifically, CynergisTek provides IT security consulting to healthcare organizations. The company recently announced record growth in the first half of this year.

  “We founded CynergisTek in 2004 to address a growing need for privacy and security expertise in healthcare, and we’ve significantly grown our team and expanded the depth and breadth of our services since our inception,” said Mac McMillan, Chief Executive Officer of CynergisTek. “To be ranked among the top companies in the US for the third year in a row is a huge honor and revalidation we are doing the right things, as well as a testament to the talented people we have working at CynergisTek.”

  The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring all the companies on the list will be held October 18-20 in San Antonio featuring speakers such as best-selling author and strategist Tony Robbins, SoulCycle co-founders Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice, New Belgium Brewing co-founder and executive chair Kim Jordan, and more. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database can be found at inc.com/inc5000.

  About CynergisTek
  CynergisTek is a top-ranked information security and privacy consulting firm. The company offers solutions to help organizations measure privacy and security programs against regulatory requirements and assists in developing risk management best practices. Since 2004 the company has served as a partner to hundreds in the healthcare industry. CynergisTek is also dedicated to supporting and educating the industry by contributing to relevant associations such as HIMSS, AHIMA, HFMA, HCCA, AHIA, AHLA, IAPP and CHIME. CynergisTek has been named in multiple research reports as one of the top firms provider organizations turn to for privacy and security. For more information visit cynergistek.com, call 512.402.8550 or email [email protected].

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  More about Inc. and the Inc. 500|5000

  Methodology
  The 2016 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2012 to 2015. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2012. They had to be US-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2015. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2012 is $100,000; the minimum for 2015 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at inc.com/inc5000.

  About Inc. Media
  Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. Winner of the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 15,000,000 today. For more information, visit inc.com.

  The Inc. 5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation’s most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates their remarkable achievements. The event also offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions.
  For more information on Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit conference.inc.com.

  Media Contact
  Taylor VerMeer
  Account Executive
  Aria Marketing
  617.332.9999 x205
  [email protected]

  Posted 8.24.2016

• Union Hospital Selects Spok to Enhance Its Integrated Communications Solutions

  SPRINGFIELD, VA – August 23 2016 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Spok, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Spok Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPOK) and the global leader in enterprise critical communications, today announced that it was selected by Union Hospital, in Maryland, to implement the latest version of its Spok Care Connect® enterprise communications solutions. Used in both the contact center and in clinical areas, the software platform is designed to evolve with the organization’s changing needs.

  Union Hospital is an award-winning, full-service community hospital located in Elkton, MD, that has been serving the residents of Cecil County and the neighboring communities in Delaware and southern Pennsylvania for more than 100 years. The 122-bed, not-for-profit organization is nationally recognized for clinical excellence and offers outpatient, surgical and emergency services, as well as comprehensive health education programs. The project began with requests from the nursing team to find a way to receive telemetry monitor alarms on their phones to speed response. From there, the Union County team identified additional ways to improve their clinical communication processes.

  “Input from Spok’s team was very valuable. We started thinking about bed alarms, phone calls, the routing of critical labs and alerts—all kinds of uses started to emerge,” said Anne Lara, chief information officer for Union Hospital. “I was impressed by the thoroughness of the engagement and the real-world knowledge of the Spok consultants. Their recommendations were also in line with our goal to make sure Union Hospital’s IT infrastructure is sustainable, upgradeable, and maintainable.”

  Spok’s Professional Services Group helps users maximize the value of their communication solutions. From the early planning stages and workflow assessments through enterprise-wide rollouts, this dedicated team of experts supports onsite staff throughout the lifecycle of an implementation project. They can provide training, assess whether a solution is being fully utilized, help plan and manage data inputs, or just jump in and help wherever they are needed.

  “There was a sense of partnership and collaboration with the Spok team. They were interested in creating a strong foundation. They looked at the problem we wanted to solve today, but they also wanted to enable us for future success,” said Lara.

  “We are happy to be working with Union Hospital and believe that the Spok Care Connect suite will help to ensure the very best patient care by providing a unified platform to strengthen workflows across their organization,” said Hemant Goel, president of Spok. Inc. “In collaboration with the Union Hospital team, Spok staff focused on the bigger picture so that we could find a solution that would work today and also lay the groundwork for future enhancement.”

  About Spok
  Spok, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Spok Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPOK), headquartered in Springfield, VA, is proud to be the global leader in critical communications for healthcare, government, public safety, and other industries. We deliver smart, reliable solutions to help protect the health, well-being, and safety of people around the globe. Our customers send over 100 million messages each month through their Spok® solutions, and they rely on Spok for workflow improvement, secure texting, paging services, contact center optimization, and public safety response. When communications matter, Spok delivers. Spok delivers. Visit them at spok.com or find them on Twitter @Spoktweets.

  Spok is a trademark of Spok Holdings, Inc. Spok Care Connect is a trademark of Spok, Inc.

  Contacts
  Spok, Inc.
  Jill Asby
  952.230.5363
  [email protected]

  Posted 8.23.2016

• Health Catalyst Named to List of Fastest-Growing Utah Companies for 2nd Year in a Row

  Healthcare Analytics Innovator Jumps to No. 16 on Utah Business’ Fast 50 List

  SALT LAKE CITY, UT – August 22, 2016 — Utah Business magazine has named Health Catalyst to its “Fast 50” list of the 50 fastest-growing companies in Utah. A leader in healthcare data warehousing, analytics and outcomes improvement, Health Catalyst’s significant 5-year sales growth from 2010 to 2015 launched the company from No. 30 on the 2015 list to No. 16 this year.

  The Health Catalyst Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) and Analytics platform provides the information foundation for systematic improvement of clinical and financial outcomes at some of the nation’s largest health systems, serving more than 70 million patients overall.

  “We are honored to be named among Utah’s fastest growing companies,” said Dan Burton, CEO of Health Catalyst. “Growth is a significant measure of a company’s performance, but what is more important to us is the degree to which we are helping our clients improve the quality and cost of care they deliver. We measure our success in patient lives saved and improved. Our sincere pursuit of that objective is the essence of why our company exists.”

  The annual Fast 50 list provides a unique look at Utah companies celebrated for their entrepreneurial spirit, innovative business tactics and skyrocketing revenue growth. The list is calculated based on five years of compound growth combined with a revenue component. The industries represented in the list range from financial services to healthcare technology to craft beers, showcasing the variety and strength of Utah’s economy.

  Winners will be featured in the September issue of Utah Business.

  About Health Catalyst
  Health Catalyst is a mission-driven data warehousing, analytics and outcomes-improvement company that helps healthcare organizations of all sizes perform the clinical, financial, and operational reporting and analysis needed for population health and accountable care. Their proven enterprise data warehouse (EDW) and analytics platform helps improve quality, add efficiency and lower costs in support of more than 70 million patients for organizations ranging from the largest US health system to forward-thinking physician practices. For more information, visit healthcatalyst.com, and follow them on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

  Media Contact
  Todd Stein
  Amendola Communications
  916.346.4213
  [email protected]

  Posted 8.22.2016

• Inside CHIME: Nearly 370 Innovators Register for National Patient ID Challenge

  

  8.18.16 by Matthew Weinstock Director of Communications and Public Relations, CHIME

  CHIME’s national efforts to find a solution ensuring accurate patient identification attracts innovators from across the globe and gains traction on Capitol Hill.

  It’s been a busy summer on the national patient ID front. First and foremost, we recently closed registration for the CHIME Healthcare Innovation Trust’s National Patient ID Challenge. Close to 370 innovators from 40 countries registered for the Final Innovation Round. That’s a tremendous showing and a clear indication that there’s a huge appetite for solving this important patient safety problem.

  As a refresher, CHIME, in partnership with HeroX, launched the challenge earlier this year with the goal of finding a solution that will ensure accurate patient identification 100 percent of the time. It’s important to note that the challenge is focused on patient identification, not patient matching. The latter is a significant issue as well, but there are other industry initiatives underway seeking to improve matching algorithms.

  With so much interest in the patient ID challenge, CHIME and HeroX staff are reevaluating the overall timeline for naming the winning solution and awarding the $1 million grand prize. Innovators entering the Final Innovation Round are not only required to describe how their solution will address nearly 40 use case scenarios, but must also build prototypes that demonstrate the functionality and performance of their design concept. With the potential of 369 innovators positioned to submit solutions, we are anticipating a heavy load. By way of comparison, the earlier Concept Blitz Round drew 113 submissions.

  This is a big and complex problem and we want to get it right. Additionally, during the Concept Blitz Round, we learned that evaluating and judging the submissions is a daunting process.

  We will continue to keep you apprised of developments with the challenge, but you can also check in on the HeroX website, and follow it on Twitter at #NPIDChallenge.

  On a slightly different front, it is worth noting that CHIME’s continued advocacy on this issue is bearing some fruit on Capitol Hill. Before adjourning for the summer, the House Appropriations Committee gave its clearest signal yet that the lack of a national strategy on patient ID and matching are among “the most significant” barriers to information exchange. Although the committee carried forward a decades-old ban prohibiting the Department of Health and Human Services from promulgating a rule on patient identification, the committee, in a report accompanying the appropriations bill, specified that HHS should not be limited from providing technical assistance to private-sector initiatives aimed at promoting “patient safety by accurately identifying patients to their health information.”

   

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  More Inside CHIME Volume 1, No. 24:

  • Seeking Voices of Innovation – Ed Marx
  • This Week’s Washington Debrief (8.15.16)

  Posted 8.18.2016

• Inside CHIME: Seeking Voices of Innovation

  

  8.18.16 by Ed Marx, FCHIME, FHIMSS Senior Vice President and CIO, New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation; Executive Vice President, the Advisory Board

  CHIME member Ed Marx is collecting stories of innovation from across the field for a new book. The aim is to help others leverage innovation to fulfill the promise of healthcare information technology in enabling superior business and clinical outcomes.

  We use the word “innovation” a lot these days in healthcare. But what does it really mean and how is innovation driving change across our organizations? More importantly, can we identify those pockets of innovation and spread them across the industry?

  Yes, we can! And you can help. I have been asked to serve as the editor for a practical book on innovation in healthcare. In order for the book to be meaningful, I want to share your real-world stories.

  Sponsored by HIMSS, Voices of Innovation will be a collection of essays written by real-world innovators like you. Everyone talks innovation, few do it. Granted, we can point to random examples of innovation inside of healthcare information technology, but few repeatable processes that make innovation more routine than random. This book will be loaded with examples and techniques from successful innovators such as yourself so that others might replicate your experience in their organization. Voices will answer questions like — Where do you begin with innovation and make it real in your profession and organization? How do you create and sustain a culture of innovation? What are the best practices you can refine and embed as part of your organizations DNA? What are the potential outcomes for robust healthcare transformation? What have pioneers accomplished? What organizations are leading with innovation?

  These brief essays (3,000 words or less) will be personalized: “Here’s how our organization thinks about innovation…”, “I’m a physician and here’s how I approach innovation and empower my team to do the same…”, “Here is how we engage patients directly…”, “Here is how we design systems with innovation at the center….”

  Voices brings together these stories and the repeatable techniques for innovation. Fused together, the book will help others leverage innovation to help fulfill the promise of healthcare information technology in enabling superior business and clinical outcomes.

  Voices will be divided into multiple sections. Sections will leverage the HIMSS Innovation Pathways work previously developed, including:

  • Voices of Innovation Introduction/Innovation Pathways Review (Marx)
  • Communicate and Eliminate Innovation Barriers
  • Stress Simplicity in Innovation
  • Recognize and Reward Innovation
  • Co-create Innovation Solutions
  • Collaborate and Listen for Innovation
  • Create Innovation Roadmaps
  • Leverage People with IT
  • Blend Cultures to Enable Innovation
  • Voices of Innovation Closing (Marx)

  If you want to be part of this transformation to lead healthcare innovation, please contact me at [email protected]. I will send you the application and details on the process for submission. Thanks for your help!

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  More Inside CHIME Volume 1, No. 24:

  • Nearly 370 Innovators Register for National Patient ID Challenge – Matthew Weinstock
  • This Week’s Washington Debrief (8.15.16)

  Posted 8.18.2016

• Sunquest Information Systems introduces Sunquest VUE™ for advanced anatomic pathology diagnostic workflow

  Innovative anatomic pathology platform streamlines diagnostic processes and improves efficiencies

  TUCSON, AZ – August 17, 2016 — Sunquest Information Systems Inc. today announced the general availability of Sunquest VUE™ 1.0, a new, intuitive solution designed to improve decision-making and efficiency challenges in the anatomic pathology workflow.

  Current trends in the healthcare industry pose challenges for labs across the nation. While there exists a zero tolerance for diagnostic error, the complexity of tests and diagnoses is increasing over time, and skilled pathologists are increasingly scarce. Sunquest VUE™ offers a highly innovative solution designed to streamline workflow processes and improve efficiencies in laboratories nationwide. Sunquest VUE provides diagnosticians with a holistic view of each patient, aggregating diagnostic information from multiple sources, presented in a way that is configurable to an individual user’s workflow preference.

  Sunquest VUE can positively impact the lab, streamlining the diagnostic process and reducing system requirements for each case. An early adopter of Sunquest VUE noted increased pathologist workload capacity and reduced turnaround times resulting from use of the new system.

  “Our experience with Sunquest VUE™ has been quite extraordinary. We’ve been able to get our hands onto the system and work with it faster than in any previous experience. The ability to see everything on the same screen allows pathologists to feel confident they have the information needed to give an appropriate and efficient diagnosis to our clients,” said Jennifer Kiss, Director, Laboratory Information Systems, Pathologists Bio-Medical Labs.

  “Sunquest continues to execute on our mission to innovate in order to help make healthcare smarter and patients safer. The introduction of the new Sunquest VUE offers pathologists and diagnosticians an innovative approach to assessing relevant clinical information in order to drive efficient and accurate diagnostic processes,” said Matthew Hawkins, president of Sunquest Information Systems.”

  For more information about the product release, please email [email protected].

  About Sunquest Information Systems
  Sunquest Information Systems Inc. provides laboratory information systems to more than 1,700 laboratories. Since 1979, Sunquest has helped laboratories across the world optimize financial results, enhance efficiency and improve the quality of patient care. The company’s singular focus on diagnostic innovation has delivered solutions that offer unique support for complex testing, enable community-wide connectivity and can be used at the point-of-care. Headquartered in Tucson, AZ, with offices in the United Kingdom and India, Sunquest is a global leader in healthcare information technology. For more information, visit www.sunquestinfo.com.

  Posted 8.17.2016

• Health Catalyst Named to the 2016 Inc. 500 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

  Healthcare Analytics Innovator Jumps to Inc. 500 List After 3 Years on Inc. 5000, with 3-Year Sales Growth of 998%

  SALT LAKE CITY,UT – August 17, 2016 — Inc. magazine today ranked Health Catalyst No. 384 on its 35th annual Inc. 500 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

  A leader in healthcare data warehousing, analytics and outcomes improvement, Health Catalyst’s sales growth of 998 percent from 2012 to 2015 launched the company onto the Inc. 500 for the first time after three straight years on the Inc. 5000 list. The lists represent a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment— its independent small businesses.

  “We are honored to be named among the nation’s fastest growing companies, and we attribute our growth to our customers’ success in using Health Catalyst’s analytics platform to systemically improve clinical and financial outcomes,” said Dan Burton, CEO of Health Catalyst. “Enabling this clinical and financial improvement is central to our company’s mission.”

  The Health Catalyst Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) and Analytics platform forms the information foundation for value-based performance at some of the nation’s largest health systems, serving more than 70 million patients overall. The company’s Inc. 500 ranking is one of several accolades received in the previous 12 months including:

  • The Glassdoor “Employees’ Choice Award” recognizing the Best Places to Work in the nation in 2016. Glassdoor ranked Health Catalyst the No. 7 best place to work in the small- and medium-sized business (SMB) category, which includes US companies with fewer than 1,000 employees
  • Rock Health’s “Best Place to Work in Digital Health” award
  • The “Gallup 2016 Great Workplace Award.” Health Catalyst is the first company in the healthcare IT market to win this prestigious award recognizing high levels of employee engagement
  • A “Best Place to Work in Healthcare” award from Modern Healthcare, for the fourth year in a row
  • A Utah Business “Fast 50” award, in recognition of percentage growth in revenue during 2015
  • The Salt Lake Tribune’s “Top Workplaces Award” recognizing the 60 small, medium and large firms that received the highest ratings from their employees, based on a survey by WorkplaceDynamics

  “The Inc. 5000 list stands out where it really counts,” said Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. “It honors real achievement by a founder or a team of them. No one makes the Inc. 5000 without building something great – usually from scratch. That’s one of the hardest things to do in business, as every company founder knows. But without it, free enterprise fails.”

  The 2016 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved three-year growth of 433%. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $200 billion, and the companies on the list collectively generated 640,000 jobs over the past three years, or about 8% of all jobs created in the entire economy during that period.

  Methodology
  The 2016 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2012 to 2015. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2012. They had to be US-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2015.

  Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at inc.com/inc5000.

  About Health Catalyst
  Health Catalyst is a mission-driven data warehousing, analytics and outcomes-improvement company that helps healthcare organizations of all sizes perform the clinical, financial, and operational reporting and analysis needed for population health and accountable care. Our proven enterprise data warehouse (EDW) and analytics platform helps improve quality, add efficiency and lower costs in support of more than 70 million patients for organizations ranging from the largest US health system to forward-thinking physician practices. For more information, visit healthcatalyst.com, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

  About Inc. Media
  Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. Winner of the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 15,000,000 today. For more information, visit inc.com.

  The Inc. 5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation’s most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates their remarkable achievements. The event also offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions.

  For more information on Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit conference.inc.com.

  For more information contact
  Todd Stein
  Amendola Communications
  916.346.4213
  [email protected]

  Posted 8.17.2016

• Agfa HealthCare awarded its fourth US Government DIN-PACS agreement

  Fourth agreement between the US government & Agfa HealthCare provides access to medical imaging for military personnel, other civilian needs

  MORTSEL, BELGIUM/GREENVILLE, SC– August 16, 2016 — 

  • Agfa HealthCare is the only company to have held all four DIN-PACS contracts since 1998.
  •  Over its ten-year term, Agfa HealthCare’s DIN-PACS IV contract has an estimated maximum value of US $768 million.
  •  Agfa HealthCare is poised to deliver its advanced Enterprise Imaging platform in support of the complex evolution in care delivery systems for the US government.

  Agfa HealthCare, a leader and innovator in the medical imaging and healthcare IT space, today announced that the US government has awarded the company its DIN-PACS IV (Digital Imaging Network/Picture Archiving and Communication System) contract. The contract term includes one five-year base period and one five-year option period. According to a recent announcement by the US Department of Defense, the potential maximum value for Agfa’s contract is up to US $768 million over the ten years.

  The DIN-PACS IV contract allows US government healthcare providers to purchase diagnostic imaging IT and related technology solutions on-demand, providing flexibility, cost savings, and quality enhancement in service to its healthcare consumers.

  “Agfa HealthCare has worked extremely hard over nearly 20 years to establish our dominant position in the US government’s DIN-PACS market,” said Tim Artz, Vice President and General Manager of Agfa HealthCare’s Global Government Program. “The high value partnerships we have developed and continue to grow with our government customers demonstrate our unwavering commitment to deliver the most advanced solutions and level of quality and security that this complex, demanding market requires.”

  Under the previous three DIN-PACS contracts, Agfa HealthCare has delivered more than $600 million in products and services. The new DIN-PACS IV contract includes departmental (e.g., radiology, cardiology, etc.) and enterprise imaging informatics solutions (e.g. VNA, image sharing, etc), integration services, and support programs to be used by US Federal agencies.

  Agfa HealthCare’s prior DIN-PACS contracts have included projects for the US Department of Defense (DoD), the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Justice, and other agencies requiring DIN-PACS products and services.

  “Agfa HealthCare is honored to continue its leadership by delivering our innovative Enterprise Imaging platform to provide the highest quality care for veterans, active duty military members, and their families,” said Bill Corsten, President, Agfa HealthCare North America. “We eagerly look forward to working alongside these most valued customers, engaging the next round of challenges, and continuing to grow our mutual success.”

  Over its 18-year relationship, Agfa HealthCare has developed a strong DINPACS presence across a wide range of US government facilities, advancing the quality of healthcare delivery with solutions installed at more than 200 DoD and VA medical treatment facilities, including 14 DoD/NATO sites in Europe, four of the VA’s multi-facility Veterans Integrated Service Networks, and more than 30 Navy ships. Agfa has the longest-standing DIN-PACS license agreement relationship with the Federal government, and is the only vendor that has been serving the government continuously in this capacity since the program began.

  About Agfa
  The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world’s leading companies in imaging and information technology. Agfa develops manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa HealthCare), and for specific industrial applications (Agfa Materials). Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries around the globe.

  About Agfa HealthCare Agfa HealthCare, present in one hospital out of two, is a leading provider of eHealth & Digital Imaging solutions. Care organizations in over 100 countries rely on Agfa HealthCare to optimize their efficiency and improve patient care.

  For more information on Agfa HealthCare, please visit agfahealthcare.com or the Agfa HealthCare Blog For images, courtesy of Agfa HealthCare, please visit agfahealthcare/resources
  Follow them on Twitter

  Agfa and the Agfa rhombus are trademarks of Agfa-Gevaert NV Belgium or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

  All information contained herein is intended for guidance purposes only, and characteristics of the products and services described in this publication can be changed at any time without notice. Products and services may not be available for your local area. Please contact your local sales representative for availability information. Agfa HealthCare diligently strives to provide as accurate information as possible, but shall not be responsible for any typographical error.

  Only the English version of this press release is legally valid. The versions in other languages only represent a translation of the original English version.

  Posted 8.16.2016