Press Release
October 2010
AxSys Technology to Deliver eHealth Solutions to Southern California and Puerto Rico
Two contracts bring quicker, safer healthcare to approximately 1.1 million Southern Californians and Puerto Ricans
Glasgow, UK, October 2010 - AxSys Technology (AxSys), a provider of patient-centric clinical information solutions, has announced the signing of two major overseas contracts with one of the United States' largest providers of managed care services, Aveta.
Both North American Medical Management California (NAMM CA) and MSO of Puerto Rico, Inc (MSO) – Aveta's largest physician networks – will begin utilising AxSys' innovative Excelicare clinical software platform. Each contract includes the development of a Health Information Exchange (HIE) system, which will give healthcare providers instant access to full and accurate information about patients in their care, in addition to other clinical functionalities provided by the flexible Excelicare platform.
"The connectivity solutions offered by AxSys are ahead of their competitors," said Doug Williams, Chief Information Officer of Aveta.
"We chose AxSys because they have a good clinical model layered on a robust connectivity architecture. Most of the options in the US are based on a hospital chassis. The quality of the solution was a real attraction for us, in addition to its ability to integrate with other technologies, flexibly meet our needs and provide a cost-effective solution."
Excelicare also allows providers to meet a key demand of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act which requires all providers to develop effective electronic patient record systems. For providers, working with a system like AxSys is also more cost-effective.
Under these multi-million dollar contracts, Excelicare will be deployed as a community-wide clinical data repository with an HIE component. The new Excelicare ACE (Advanced Clinical Explorer) will provide community-wide access to a composite Continuity of Care Document (CCD) which will be created dynamically using the AxSys semantic data mapping technology. Along with Excelicare ACE, AxSys will also deploy a SureScripts certified ePrescribing solution and a patient personal health record (PHR) system at both these sites. The MSO contract in Puerto Rico also includes the Excelicare clinical application development environment.
"This is excellent news for us, and for the UK healthcare IT industry, that our solutions are being so warmly welcomed in America, which has one of the most advanced healthcare and software markets in the world," said Dr. Pradeep Ramayya, CEO AxSys Technology.
"I believe that what makes us stand out from our competitors is that our solutions have been developed using a deep understanding of what clinicians and patients really need. In the present difficult financial climate it is vital for healthcare providers in the UK and overseas to be able to find affordable and effective ways of using software to improve patient services and reduce the cost of care. AxSys is a truly international enterprise, based in Scotland, with a development center in India and with a growing client base in other countries. Our aim is to continue expanding and bringing the benefits of Excelicare to healthcare providers and patients throughout the world."
The platform offers significant potential for cutting healthcare costs by eliminating duplication and for developing a collaborative and patient-centered approach to care. It can, for example, give patients access to their records and allow them to update information on anything from their medication to their vital signs, which allows for effective and responsive remote management.
Puerto Rico Deployment
Trial of the software among MSO patients and providers has been taking place throughout summer 2010. MSO hopes to have 8,000 providers using Excelicare by the end of the year – sharing data for approximately 100,000 patients.
"The shift we are about to undergo from paper-based to paperless care coordination will benefit both caregivers and patients," said Josh Valdez, DBA, President of MSO.
"AxSys has a passion and commitment to making healthcare IT really useable. The system will help us avoid duplication of medical test for patients who use multiple points of care. It also helps us work around the problem of illegible handwritten notes. That alone will have a significant impact on patient safety. As a result, we will increase the quality of care we provide while also approaching care from a more holistic perspective."
MSO currently serves 6,000 providers, from primary care units to hospitals and specialists.
California Deployment
NAMM CA currently manages 250,000 lives and maintains a network of 500 primary care physicians and 1,000 specialists. Physicians, hospitals and other providers are expected to use Excelicare beyond this core, allowing information to be exchanged on a large population of patients in Southern California.
"This is a game-changing technology which is focused on enabling the sharing of clinical information between providers," says Leigh Hutchins, President of NAMM CA, which began implementing the system earlier this month.
"It's all about empowerment through information, and with the rapid developments taking place in healthcare, providers need technology that is adaptable. AxSys is the right solution that fits perfectly with NAMM CA's focus on cost, quality and access because it is scalable and flexible. Our responses can be quicker and more effective to the changes we face on a day to day basis."
This effort is NAMM CA's next step in developing healthcare IT that better connects providers and patients – a core goal for the organization.
About AxSys Technology Limited
AxSys Technology Limited specializes in the development and implementation of clinical solutions to improve the delivery of healthcare. All AxSys solutions are patient-centered and are designed with a clinical perspective to directly benefit patients and healthcare providers. AxSys was set up by experienced physicians who recognised the benefits of the Collaborative Care model in their own clinical practice and realised that a flexible communication-oriented clinical information system would be a key element in its successful delivery. The company, registered in Scotland and based in Glasgow, started operations in January 2000.
AxSys' product Excelicare was conceived as a solution for Collaborative Care. It is a powerful toolset-based application that allows the creation of highly tailored clinical systems to reflect the complex working patterns of clinicians across the healthcare spectrum and has the ability to integrate effectively with existing healthcare IT systems. It incorporates advanced telecommunication, multi-media and decision support technologies within a clinician-friendly Electronic Patient Record (EPR) framework. The AxSys system also allows patients to collaborate with their care givers leading to greater engagement and better outcomes.
The company has 38 employees at its Glasgow base and is currently recruiting additional staff. AxSys has an offshore development center in Hyderabad, India where it employs more than 160 staff.
For further information, visit www.axsys.co.uk or www.axsyshealth.com
For more information about the Aveta group of companies, visit www.aveta.com
About MSO of Puerto Rico, Inc., NAMM California (NAMM CA), and Aveta Inc.
MSO of Puerto Rico, Inc. (MSO) is Puerto Rico's leading administrative medical service organization, offering support to 27 medical groups and healthcare organizations throughout the Island. Working with Medicare Advantage plans MMM Healthcare, Inc. and PMC Medicare Choice, Inc., MSO helps providers streamline operations so that they achieve financial and organizational efficiency and, most importantly, provide high-quality patient care experiences.
North American Medical Management California, Inc. (NAMM CA) develops and manages provider networks, offering a full range of services in Southern California to assist physicians and other provider organizations in patient care coordination and business operations. NAMM CA brings together 14 physician organizations including PrimeCare, Mercy Physicians Medical Group, Coachella Valley Physicians, and Primary Care Associates – a network that includes over 500 primary care physicians and 1,000 specialists serving more than 42,000 senior members and 195,000 commercial members.
MSO and NAMM CA are part of the Aveta Inc. family of companies – one of the largest providers of managed healthcare services in the United States. Redefining healthcare management to meet the challenges of today's complex healthcare environment, Aveta develops innovative models that coordinate care for more than 230,000 Medicare beneficiaries and more than 330,000 commercial members, Aveta builds provider networks and Medicare Advantage programs that are sustainable, cost-effective and utilize advanced technologies. The company is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and currently has operating subsidiaries in California, Illinois, Arizona and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.aveta.com.
Media Contact
Susan Venables – Highland Marketing
Phone: +44 (0) 1877 384739
Mobile: +44 (0) 7971 166936
susanv@highland-marketing.com
Myriam McLoughlin – Highland Marketing
Phone: +44 (0) 7940 549163
myriamm@highland-marketing.com
Kristen Hayner – for Aveta Inc.
Phone: 615-254-0575
khayner@jarrardinc.com
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