Missouri Health Connection Chooses InterSystems HealthShare for Statewide Health Information Network

COLUMBIA, MO--(Marketwire -06/19/12)- Missouri Health Connection (MHC) and InterSystems Corporation today announced that they have entered into an agreement for InterSystems HealthShare™ to be the technology foundation for Missouri Health Connection's (MHC) statewide health information network.

MHC is the state-designated entity chartered to oversee development of Missouri's statewide health information network that will improve public health and patient care, reduce costs and empower patients. InterSystems is a global leader in health information software for connected care, with a track record of success in developing and supporting health information networks in other states and countries.

InterSystems HealthShare is a strategic healthcare informatics platform. It enables sharing of patient information across multiple systems and active analytics to drive informed action. Selection of HealthShare involved an extensive national search and request for proposals by the MHC board of directors.

"Working with InterSystems to build the Missouri Health Connection network will provide health care providers with fast, secure access to electronic health information, and is essential to helping improve the quality and coordination of care," said Melissa Johnsen, Interim President & CEO of Missouri Health Connection.

MHC's HealthShare-based statewide health information network will be used to serve a population estimated at more than six million patients in Missouri.

"InterSystems welcomes the opportunity to work with MHC to develop and deploy a health information network that will support optimal care delivery to healthcare consumers throughout Missouri," said Paul Grabscheid, InterSystems Vice President of Strategic Planning.

"By giving emergency room doctors, for example, instant and secure access to all of a patient's vital medical information, including medications, allergies, and family medical history, doctors can begin to treat them immediately and effectively -- even if the patient is unconscious," said Sandra Johnson, Missouri Health Connection Board chair. "MHC's network can literally help save more lives."

As the first step in implementation, MHC and InterSystems are working with health care provider organizations around the state to launch two key services: Direct secured messaging and the ability to query a patient's records through a secure cloud-based network. Go live is slated for this summer.

About Missouri Health Connection
Missouri Health Connection is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization overseen by a public-private board of directors including members from state government, private healthcare organizations, private practice physicians, professional organizations, and consumer advocacy groups. MHC's statewide network will improve healthcare quality and save more lives by improving the coordination of care and promoting informed decision-making by providers, as well as by giving patients more complete and accurate information about their own healthcare. Implementing the Missouri network is also expected to reduce preventable medical errors, minimize duplication of treatment and procedures, and increase efficiency.

For additional information, please visit www.missourihealthconnect.org. You can also connect with MHC at www.facebook.com/MissouriHealthConnection and www.twitter.com/HealthConnectMO.

About InterSystems
InterSystems Corporation is a global leader in software for connected care, with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts and offices in 25 countries. InterSystems HealthShare™ is a strategic healthcare informatics platform for information exchange and analytics within a hospital network, and across a community, region or nation. HealthShare leverages InterSystems' iKnow and DeepSee technologies to unlock all patient information, including unstructured data, and to enable real-time analysis. InterSystems CACHÉ® is the world's most widely used database system in clinical applications. InterSystems Ensemble® is a platform for rapid integration and the development of connectable applications.

InterSystems' products are used by thousands of hospitals and laboratories worldwide, including all 17 hospitals on the Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals as rated by U.S. News and World Report.

For more information, visit InterSystems.com, www.youtube.com/InterSystemsCorp, www.facebook.com/InterSystems, or @InterSystems on Twitter.

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Allina Health launches Neighborhood Health Connection Program™

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Can a neighborhood work together to improve the health of individuals and families? That is a question Allina Health is intent on answering as it launches a broad-based neighborhood health program across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. This grass roots program is designed to support wellness and promote healthy lifestyles – one neighborhood at a time. Neighborhood Health Connection™ will provide tools and resources to help people join with their neighbors to improve health for themselves and their communities.

“This kind of approach is exactly what is needed to improve the health of individuals and populations while lowering the cost of care,” said Dr. John R. Finnegan, Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. “A large body of research clearly shows that social networks and social supports play a huge role in achieving better health. In many ways, communities are the means by which better health is created.”

Neighborhood Health Connection will give community members the tools to become champions of health in their neighborhoods. Neighborhood group leaders will have access to support and materials to start various healthy neighborhood activities. This will include free health screenings and social networking tools to share success stories and to provide personal support for health improvement.

"I’ve seen neighbors of all ages work together to achieve better health and have fun at the same time,” said Karen Koeppe of the Healthy West 7th group in St. Paul. “Activities like helping people get to their healthcare appointments, planting a community garden, walking dogs together, running grocery store errands or just getting a cup of coffee together all can contribute to better health.”

Neighborhood Health Connection also encourages participants to come up with their own ideas, such as hosting a yoga class. They can apply for grants from Allina Health for up to $250 to support their healthy neighborhood activities.

“Finding ways to engage people in healthy activities has always been a tough challenge,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Edward Ehlinger. “Programs like this, that harness the power of social connections and support, may be just what many people need to take a more active role in their health.”

Allina Health will launch Neighborhood Health Connection at a family-friendly event Sunday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Minneapolis Farmers Market, 312 East Lyndale Ave. N. At the event, people can learn more about the program and participate in healthy activities like gardening and yoga.

The first 500 families who attend the kick-off event on April 29 will receive free Wellness Kits from Allina Health with items to support healthy behaviors, such as vegetable seeds for planting, healthy recipe cards, pedometers and jump ropes. Additional kick-off events will take place in communities around Minnesota and Western Wisconsin in the coming weeks.

“We are entering a new era in health care, one which emphasizes health as much as care. They are equal partners that when taken together can produce stunning results,” said Dr. Courtney Baechler, medical director of the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, a part of Allina Health. “We believe that we can truly help people to take control of their health by partnering with them at the neighborhood level. Programs like Neighborhood Health Connection and others to come are examples of how we can build relationships that extend beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics to facilitate better health for our communities.”

For more information on the events, program and to apply for Neighborhood Health Connection support visit neighborhoodhealthconnection.org.

About Allina Health
Allina Health (formerly Allina Hospitals & Clinics) is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 11 hospitals, 15 pharmacies, specialty care centers and specialty medical services that provide hospice care, oxygen and home medical equipment, and emergency medical transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org.

Those quoted in news release are also available to comment on this initiative:

Dr. John Finnegan, Dean, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota.
finne001@umn.edu
612-625-1164

Dr. Edward Ehlinger, Minnesota Commissioner of Health
john.stieger@state.mn.us
(651) 201- 4998

Karen Koeppe, Healthy West 7th Project, St. Paul
(651) 227-1942

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