New MarketScape Report from IDC Health Insights Evaluates Evolution of Health Information Exchange Platform Solutions

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A new IDC MarketScape report from IDC Health Insights highlights the rapid evolution of the health information exchange (HIE) market. The comprehensive study, IDC MarketScape: U.S. Health Information Exchange Platform Solutions 2012 Vendor Assessment (Doc #HI235816), provides an evaluation of 16 vendors that offer a platform solution for Health Information Exchange. IDC Health Insights defines a platform as having development tools, published APIs, education of technical staff, a broad ecosystem of partners, and professional services. Vendors evaluated for this report include: AT&T, AxSys Technology, Caradigm, Carefx, Certify Data Systems, Covisint, dbMotion, IBM, Infor, InterSystems Corp., Medicity, OptumInsight, Oracle, Orion Health, RelayHealth, and Verizon.

The health information exchange market continues to evolve with the focus shifting from connecting the ecosystem to exchange data and qualify for meaningful use incentives, to turning data into "actionable information" that enables emerging accountable care or collaborative care initiatives. This shift has lead to additional market consolidation among HIE vendors. Since the IDC Health Insights report Vendor Assessment: Industry Short List for Health Information Exchange Technologies was published two years ago (March 2010, Doc #HI222529), seven HIE vendors have been acquired or merged and new, nontraditional players have entered the market including payers and telecommunication companies.

"The IT requirements for health information organizations and evolving care delivery and reimbursement models are too extensive for any one vendor to satisfy," said Lynne Dunbrack, program director, Connected Health IT Strategies at IDC Health Insights. "To address the business and technical requirements of accountable care, in addition to providing core HIE technologies, vendors are responding by developing, partnering, or acquiring analytics, collaborative care, and patient engagement technologies."

Platform-as-a-service will increasingly play an important role in delivering HIE capabilities as vendors look to create an ecosystem of strategic partnerships. Platforms will evolve over time to meet the needs of customers and partners in the ecosystem, often through self development. In contrast, packaged solutions are designed to meet a very specific set of requirements. The IDC MarketScape vendor assessments for HIE technology are not all inclusive as there are other vendors that provide either a packaged or platform solution for HIE. Additional HIE vendors are covered in IDC MarketScape: U.S. Health Information Exchange Packaged Solutions 2012 Vendor Assessment (Doc #HI235830), which covers ten vendors that offer a packaged solution for HIE.

IDC MarketScape criteria selection, weightings, and vendor scores represent well-researched IDC judgment about the market and specific vendors. IDC analysts tailor the range of standard characteristics by which vendors are measured through structured discussions, surveys, and interviews with market leaders, participants and end users. Market weightings are based on user interviews, buyer surveys and the input of a review board of IDC experts in each market. IDC analysts base individual vendor scores, and ultimately vendor positions within the IDC MarketScape, on detailed surveys and interviews with the vendors, publicly available information and end-user experiences in an effort to provide an accurate and consistent assessment of each vendor's characteristics, behavior and capability.

For additional information about this study, or to arrange a one-on-one briefing with Lynne please contact Julie Crotty at 978-877-0053 or Julie@attunecommunications.com. Reports are available to qualified members of the media. For information on purchasing reports, contact insights@idc.com; reporters should email Julie@attunecommunications.com.

About IDC MarketScape

IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

About IDC Health Insights

IDC Health Insights assists health businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers who serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the payer, provider and life sciences industries. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology, media, research, and events company. For more information, please visit www.idc-hi.com, email info@idc-hi.com, or call 508-935-4445. Visit the IDC Health Insights Community at http://idc-insights-community.com/health

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Loren Cordain - Origins and Evolution of the Western Diet: Health Implications for the 21st Century.

Another lecture in IHMC's award winning lecture series. http://www.ihmc.us

There is growing awareness that the profound changes in the environment (e.g. in diet and other lifestyle conditions) that began with the introduction of agriculture and animal husbandry approximately 10,000 years ago occurred too recently on an evolutionary timescale for the human genome to adjust. In conjunction with this discordance between our ancient, genetically-determined biology and the nutritional, cultural and activity patterns of contemporary western populations, many of the so-called diseases of civilization have emerged. In the U.S. and most western countries, diet-related chronic diseases represent the single largest cause of morbidity and mortality. These diseases are epidemic in contemporary, westernized populations and typically afflict 50-65 % of the adult population, yet are rare or non-existent in hunter-gatherers and other less westernized people. Evidence gleaned over the past three decades now indicates that virtually all so-called diseases of civilization have multifactorial dietary elements that underlie their etiology, along with other environmental agents and genetic susceptibility. This talk will trace the origins of the Western diet and discuss the health implications.

Dr. Cordain is a Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. His research emphasis over the past 15 years has focused upon the evolutionary and anthropological basis for diet, health and well being in modern humans.

Dr. Cordain's scientific publications have examined the nutritional characteristics of worldwide hunter-gatherer diets as well as the nutrient composition of wild plant and animal foods consumed by foraging humans. Over the past five years his work has focused upon the adverse health effects of the high dietary glycemic load that is ubiquitous in the typical western diet. A number of his recent papers have proposed an endocrine link between dietary induced hyperinsulinemia and acne. Currently, Dr. Cordain's research team is exploring the connection between dietary
elements that increase intestinal permeability (primarily saponins and lectins) and autoimmune disease, particularly multiple sclerosis.

Dr. Cordain is the author of more than 100 peer review publications, many of which were funded by both private and governmental agencies. He is the recent recipient of the Scholarly Excellence award at Colorado State University for his contributions into understanding optimal human nutrition. He has lectured extensively world wide, and has written three popular books (The Paleo Diet, John Wiley & Sons; The Paleo Diet for Athletes, Rodale Press; The Dietary Cure for Acne) summarizing his research findings.

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Health Evolution Partners Makes Investment in Freedom Innovations, LLC

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Health Evolution Partners, a health care private equity firm, announced today that it has acquired a majority interest in Freedom Innovations, LLC (“Freedom”). Freedom, based in Irvine, California, is a leading provider of premium high-technology prosthetic devices and is focused on developing world-class solutions for individuals with lower limb amputations. Freedom’s senior management team will continue their leadership of the organization, and will remain significant shareholders in the company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“We are very excited to partner with Freedom,” said Ned Brown, Investment Partner of Health Evolution Partners. “Freedom develops, manufactures, and has successfully commercialized, a broad and attractive portfolio of proprietary lower limb prosthetic devices. The company provides a tremendous platform for expansion in a dynamic and growing market, and has a robust pipeline of new products. We have been impressed with Freedom’s strong management team and employees; they have an outstanding track record of innovation and development, along with superior commercial execution and customer service. We look forward to working with them.”

“Health Evolution Partners is an ideal partner for Freedom,” said Maynard Carkhuff, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom. “Their extensive background in the medical device industry, combined with their strategic insight, and the firm’s total-systems approach to healthcare investing will be extremely valuable to Freedom as we continue to execute our growth strategy. We believe that Health Evolution Partners will be able to help accelerate Freedom’s growth through their broad-scale healthcare systems, strategic, operational, reimbursement, and commercial sales and marketing experience. Furthermore, their strong relationships with key decision-makers in the healthcare industry, both in the U.S. and internationally, will be highly valuable.”

As part of the transaction, and to finance further growth opportunities for Freedom, Health Evolution Partners facilitated the successful completion of new senior credit facilities. The senior credit facilities were led by Madison Capital Funding LLC and included BMO Capital Markets as Co-Lead Arranger.

Health Evolution Partners focuses on creating strong partnerships with high growth companies and exceptional management teams in the healthcare industry. The firm seeks to invest in platforms where the expertise and experience of the firm’s operating and transaction principals can contribute to accelerating the growth and value of the businesses. Freedom is Health Evolution Partner’s ninth Growth Fund investment. Health Evolution Partner’s previous investments include AOS, CambridgeSoft, CenseoHealth, Halcyon Healthcare, Kisimul, Mollen Immunization Clinics, Optimal IMX, and Prolacta Bioscience.

“We are enthusiastic about Freedom Innovations, and look forward to working with them to continue their global growth,” said David J. Brailer, Ph.D., M.D., Chairman of Health Evolution Partners. “Freedom adds undisputed value to its patients and to the overall health care system. It is led by a strong and proven management team, and is poised to take major steps forward as a commercial leader in its space. It is, in short, the kind of company that we want to work with and to have in our portfolio.”

About Health Evolution Partners | www.healthevolutionpartners.com

Health Evolution Partners buys and invests in rapidly growing companies that are commercial leaders in the health care industry. We invest around the globe and across the health economy, including services, information technology, and life sciences. We form close working partnerships with outstanding management teams and connect our companies to our network of CEOs, policy makers, and thought leaders. For more information on Health Evolution Partners, visit www.healthevolutionpartners.com.

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Verizon and Health Evolution Partners Join Forces to Accelerate Connected Health Innovation and Adoption

NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Evolution Partners and Verizon Enterprise Solutions have established a strategic relationship to encourage innovation and adoption of connected health information technologies that help drive patient care improvements and better manage costs.

Under a new multiyear agreement announced Monday (Feb. 6), Health Evolution Partners (HEP), a health care buyout firm, and Verizon Connected Healthcare Solutions, the company's health IT practice group, will collaborate to identify and work with companies to spur the development and adoption of advanced IT solutions and applications in areas such as mobile health, telemedicine and health data management to help transform health care delivery in the U.S.

Demand for connected health technologies is expected to grow rapidly as the industry seeks to better manage costs and improve patient care by facilitating real-time care coordination, increasing patient engagement and enabling information portability. The firms will leverage HEP's unique health care insight and Verizon's platform-based health IT portfolio of mobility, cloud and IT offerings to accelerate transformative change by providing innovators with the ability to develop and scale connected health IT solutions and applications.

"The next generation of health IT will not be anchored to a desk," said Dr. David J. Brailer, chairman of Health Evolution Partners.  "Clinicians and patients will expect technologies that support mobility and virtual care.  Advanced broadband, video-based technologies and wireless devices that incorporate geo-location capabilities and sensors will change the landscape of health care from development to delivery. Our relationship with Verizon demonstrates the importance of bringing these innovations to market."

Dr. Peter Tippett, vice president and chief medical officer, Verizon Connected Healthcare Solutions, said: "Strong collaboration across the health care ecosystem is essential to enabling health IT transformation. Verizon is committed to building strategic relationships to help spur the adoption of connected health technologies. Health Evolution Partners stands out because of the firm's deep understanding of the health care industry and its proven ability to invest in innovative companies that are poised to play important roles in the future of health care."

Executives from HEP and Verizon Enterprise Solutions will discuss market opportunities in connected health during a session on mobility at this year's HEP Leadership Summit, an annual gathering of 350 world-class health care CEOs, innovators, investors, policy makers and thought leaders, to be held April 25-27 at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Calif.

About Health Evolution Partners

Health Evolution Partners buys and operates rapidly growing companies that are commercial leaders in the health care industry.  We invest around the globe and across the health economy, including services, information technology and life sciences.  We form close working partnerships with outstanding management teams and connect our companies to our network of CEOs, policy makers and thought leaders. For more information on Health Evolution Partners, visit www.healthevolutionpartners.com.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with nearly 109 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 194,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

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Peter Neupert, Globally Recognized Health Care Information Technology Executive, Joins Health Evolution Partners As ...

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Health Evolution Partners (HEP), a health care buyout firm, announced today that Peter Neupert has joined the firm as Operating Partner. Mr. Neupert is a health care information technology leader who is globally known for his experience building major health care information technology products and bringing them to market. He will collaborate with HEP’s other operating partners to help the firm’s portfolio companies achieve commercial success.

“As one of the world’s top health information technology executives, Peter will bring immeasurable strength to HEP and our companies,” said David J. Brailer, MD, PhD, CEO of Health Evolution Partners. “His experience, ranging from start-ups to the largest global companies, puts him in a unique position to help our companies be market leaders.”

“I’m excited to join the Health Evolution Partners team and to share my experience launching and growing new health information technology businesses,” said Mr. Neupert. “HEP’s portfolio companies are among the most innovative growth companies in the industry, and I look forward to contributing to their successes.”

Mr. Neupert most recently served as Corporate Vice President of the Microsoft Health Solutions Group since its formation in 2005. Under his leadership, the group brought two primary software platforms to the market: Amalga, a data integration platform, and HealthVault, a personal health application platform. Previously, Mr. Neupert served on the President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC) from 2003 to 2005, co-chairing the Health Information Technology subcommittee. Prior to Microsoft, he led drugstore.com Inc., which become a top online retail store and information site during his time as president and CEO from 1998 to 2001. He remained as chairman of the board of directors of drugstore.com Inc. until April 2004.

Mr. Neupert received a M.A. in business administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and B.A. from Colorado College. He is an active member of the Institute of Medicine’s Roundtable on Value & Science-Driven Healthcare and serves on the board of trustees for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He has also served on the boards of GlobalScholars.com (sold to Scantron Corp.), Aquantive.com (sold to Microsoft) and Cranium, Inc. (sold to Hasbro).

About Health Evolution Partners

Health Evolution Partners buys and operates rapidly growing companies that are commercial leaders in the health care industry. We invest around the globe and across the health economy, including services, information technology and life sciences. We form close working partnerships with outstanding management teams and connect our companies to our network of CEOs, policy makers and thought leaders. For more information on Health Evolution Partners, visit www.healthevolutionpartners.com.

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Veteran Health Care CEO Barry Smith Joins Health Evolution Partners As Operating Partner

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Health Evolution Partners (HEP), a health care buyout firm, announced today that Barry Smith has joined the firm as Operating Partner. Mr. Smith is a veteran health care CEO with experience founding and leading health care companies, including hospice and pharmacy benefits management. Mr. Smith will join other operating partners and investment professionals to help the firm’s portfolio companies achieve commercial success.

“Barry is a stellar CEO who will deepen our operating experience and expand our business savvy,” said David J. Brailer, MD, PhD, CEO of Health Evolution Partners. “His deep experience founding and leading major health care companies will be invaluable in helping our portfolio CEOs build great and durable companies.”

“I’m thrilled to join Health Evolution Partners as it builds world class operating capabilities,” said Mr. Smith. “This is a time of enormous opportunity for strong health care companies, and I look forward to working with our CEOs to build top tier companies.”

Mr. Smith founded and served as Chairman, President and CEO of VistaCare, Inc., a national provider of hospice services, from 1996 to 2003. Prior to that, he served as Chairman and CEO of Value Rx, Inc., then one of the country’s largest pharmacy benefit management companies. Before that, he served as Vice President of Operations for PCS Health Systems, also a pharmacy benefits management firm. He currently serves as a director of Magellan Health Services, and has served on several for-profit company boards as well as several charitable boards. He is the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bon Travay, S.A., a charitable organization dedicated to healthcare and educational efforts in developing countries. Mr. Smith received a B.A. in finance from the University of Utah.

About Health Evolution Partners

Health Evolution Partners buys and operates rapidly growing companies that are commercial leaders in the health care industry. We invest around the globe and across the health economy, including services, information technology and life sciences. We form close working partnerships with outstanding management teams and connect our companies to our network of CEOs, policy makers and thought leaders. For more information on Health Evolution Partners, visit www.healthevolutionpartners.com.

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