New partnership, electronic records solution, promote better patient care, cut health care costs

JACKSON, Miss. and CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mississippi Division of Medicaid and Shared Health®, Inc. have launched the state's Electronic Health Record (EHR) system and electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) solution for more than one half million Medicaid beneficiaries. The move further advances Shared Health's growth strategy.

Under the contract announced last August, Shared Health is working with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid to connect the Medicaid beneficiaries' medical information across his/her network of clinical providers using Shared Health products and services. Through this use of secure, innovative health information technology solutions at the point of care, Shared Health will help the Mississippi Division of Medicaid focus on reducing health care costs and promoting better patient care.

While cost savings are important in this economic environment, so are healthier outcomes and support of those most in need. Medicaid beneficiaries in Mississippi will benefit extensively from the improved outcomes provided by integrated, evidence-based technology, said Robert L. Robinson, Medicaid executive director.

"With the cost savings resulting from implementing an EHR/eScript System in Mississippi, we will be able to provide better service and care for the underserved population in our state," he said.

Shared Health brings their key technology partners to the Mississippi solution. As part of the four-year contract, Shared Health will offer Mississippi Medicaid health care providers with a secure web-based EHR; an e-prescribing system; and access to hospital discharge information. Shared Health will also provide clinical outreach services in support of EHR adoption by Medicaid physicians statewide.

Shared Health's network – which includes a total of 4,200 physicians and nearly 4 million patient records – aims to register about 1,000 physicians in Mississippi for this leading-edge, cost effective technology solution.

"Together with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, we are delivering better patient care through a statewide Electronic Health Record with eScript System using Shared Health's guiding principles to deliver the most secure, cost-efficient solution to the residents of Mississippi," said Kim Wagner, chief information officer of Shared Health. "This world-class solution provides clinicians and patients tools for managing and improving care – allowing them to make better medical decisions at the point of care through relevant clinical information, including lab results, medications, immunizations, and allergies."

When combined with access to medical claims information and patient demographics, costs are reduced because the data-sharing eliminates duplicative services. At the same time, patient safety and treatment outcomes are improved.

"As an innovator in the health care information industry, Shared Health partners with physicians and nurses to transform patient care, establishing a successful track record for outreach, access and outcomes," Wagner said.

Through the partnership, the State of Mississippi Division of Medicaid will also be able to store records electronically in a secure location, allowing access to those records even in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, preserving critical health data of Medicaid recipients across the state.

About Shared Health

Shared Health was launched in 2004 with the mission to transform health care by offering secure, innovative health information technology (HIT) solutions. With the records of nearly 4 million patients in its HIE, Shared Health's web-based applications securely share and connect medical information across a patient's network of clinicians, including 5,400 physicians in Tennessee. Shared Health strives to be the clinician's trusted partner for sharing relevant patient information at the point of care, enabling both health care professionals and consumers to improve outcomes. For more information on Shared Health, visit www.sharedhealth.com.

CONTACTS

Mississippi Medicaid

Francis Rullan, Comm. Dir.

601.359.6078

francis.rullan@medicaid.ms.gov      

Shared Health

Todd Smith

615.873.5663

todd.smith@deanesmithmedia.com

SOURCE Shared Health

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.sharedhealth.com