Brooklyn Health Information Exchange, University of Pittsburgh Honored for Outstanding Use of Information Technology to Benefit Society

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Two Verizon Business customers - the Brooklyn Health Information Exchange and the University of Pittsburgh - have been honored as Laureates by IDG's 2009 Computerworld Honors Program.

Each year, the Computerworld Honors Program Chairmen's Committee, a group of 100 leaders of the world's foremost information technology companies, recognizes the most outstanding visionary applications of information technology that promote positive social and economic progress.

"We are thrilled that the Computerworld Honors Program has recognized these Verizon Business customers for their innovative use of information technology," said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president - global business products, Verizon. "The Brooklyn Health Information Exchange and the University of Pittsburgh stand out as shining examples of how our advanced IP solutions can be leveraged by large-business and government customers to transform operations and better serve key stakeholders."

The honorees will be recognized during the 21st Annual Laureates Medal Ceremony & Gala Awards event on June 1 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The Computerworld Honors Program was founded in 1988.

Following are descriptions of how the Brooklyn Health Information Exchange and the University of Pittsburgh are using advanced communications and information technology solutions provided by Verizon Business:

• Brooklyn Health Information Exchange - Designed to meet the federal call-to-action to transform health care delivery through regional collaboration, the Brooklyn Health Information Exchange (BHIX) is a consortium of 10 Brooklyn-based health care organizations representing the full continuum of medical care. Led by Maimonides Medical Center, the BHIX uses a high-capacity, resilient optical network provided by Verizon Business to securely share patient information via electronic medical records transferred between participating health care organizations over the Maimonides network. By spurring the adoption of a common health care information platform, supported by shared policies, as well as privacy and security standards designed to create a sustainable business model, the BHIX enrolled - in just five months - more than 20,000 patients to participate in the program.

• University of Pittsburgh - Faced with the daunting challenge of communicating quickly and reliably with tens of thousands of students, faculty and staff about potential safety incidents across five campuses, the University of Pittsburgh chose Verizon Notification Services, a network-based, multi-model alert notification service that delivers customized, time-sensitive communications through landline and cell phones, faxes, text messaging and e-mail. Verizon Business and the University of Pittsburgh worked closely to deploy the alert notification platform, including integration with the school's central directory. The system has been used four times, with a successful message delivery rate of 99.8 percent.

"The Computerworld Honors Program recognizes organizations for their ongoing efforts to utilize technology in order to benefit society," said Ron Milton, chairman - Board of Trustees, Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation and executive vice president, Computerworld. "We are proud to publicly acknowledge the Brooklyn Health Information Exchange and the University of Pittsburgh for their technical prowess and success."

Case studies and oral histories highlighting the technology achievements of these Verizon Business customers, as well as all 2009 Computerworld Honors Program Laureates, are preserved and protected in national archives, and in more than 350 universities, museums and research institutions around the world. Additional information about the program and an archive of past Laureates is available on the program's Web site at www.cwhonors.org.

"In honoring the Brooklyn Health Information Exchange and the University of Pittsburgh, the Computerworld Honors Program is highlighting the transformative power of technology," said Blair Crump, group president - worldwide sales, Verizon Business. "Every day, Verizon Business helps its customers deploy advanced communications and information technology solutions to solve critical business issues. These two customers demonstrate how vision and technical know-how translate into success."

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a global leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise with the world's most connected IP network to deliver award-winning communications, IT, information security and network solutions. We securely connect today's extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers, partners, suppliers and employees - enabling them to increase productivity and efficiency and help preserve the environment. Many of the world's largest businesses and governments - including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and thousands of government agencies and educational institutions - rely on our professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

About Computerworld Honors Program

Founded by International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, the Computerworld Honors Program is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation. In its 21st year, Computerworld Honors is the longest running global program to honor individuals and organizations that use information technology to benefit society. Each year, the program's Chairmen's Committee, a group of 100 Chairmen/CEOs of global technology companies, nominates individuals and organizations around the world whose visionary application of information technology promotes positive social and economic progress. Nominations are evaluated by an independent board of CIO-level judges who select Laureates, Finalists and award recipients, in 10 industry-related categories.

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SOURCE Verizon Business

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