RALEIGH, N.C. – November 1, 2007 – The Center for Community Health Leadership, an organization sponsored by Misys Healthcare Systems, today announced the successful recipient of a $3 million grant of leading healthcare technology. The winner of this grant is Tampa Bay, Florida, who beat more than 90 other communities to win the grant. The Center for Community Health Leadership selected the Tampa Bay area as a Center grant recipient because of the area’s reputation for healthcare excellence and their commitment to making the idea of community data sharing a reality. The Tampa Bay area, including several surrounding cities, is home to more than 3 million residents.
Tampa Bay is the second community to receive grants of electronic health record (EHR) software from the Center for Community Health Leadership, following New Haven, Connecticut. The software will enable caregivers in the Tampa Bay area to share information in a secure and appropriate way, leading to reduced costs, enhanced healthcare information adoption and more efficient and effective patient care.
“Physicians in the Tampa Bay area realize that becoming a connected medical community is the first step toward reducing healthcare costs for local patients and employers and creating a higher standard of care,” said David Schlaifer, CEO and president of Doctors' Administrative Solutions, LLC (DAS), who spearheaded the bid for the grant. “Across the country, health organizations have taken steps towards improving the quality of patient care. Now, with Misys’ recent announcement regarding open source and Misys Connect, combined with this grant, a connected healthcare community will become the standard of care that patients have a right to demand, and providers have the ability to deliver. DAS is pleased to have the opportunity to help lead the way.”
“The goal of the Center’s grant program is to support physicians by helping to turn the theory of a connected healthcare community into practice,” said Leigh Burchell, director of the Center for Community Health Leadership. “With this grant, we will provide the solutions and education needed to successfully replace the paper-based, resource-intensive processes in existence today. Connecting all venues of care in the Tampa Bay healthcare community will take costs out of the system and improve the patient’s experience – an achievement we hope can be replicated across the country as people see a successful model in action.”
“The deployment of health information technology is vital to transforming healthcare in Florida, and ranks among our Agency’s highest priorities,” said Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, secretary of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration. “This type of partnership is a model for our state, and I applaud the Center for Community Health Leadership, the Tampa Bay RHIO, DAS, and the area physicians and healthcare providers who made it possible.”
Applying for Grants
Beginning today, medical organizations in Tampa Bay can learn more about the individual application process for the grant online at www.dr-connect.com. In mid-November, physician practices, hospitals and homecare agencies will then be able to fill out an online form to specify the software that they are requesting via the grant program. Implementation and the community connectivity efforts are slated to begin in Spring 2008.
For additional information on the grant program from the Center for Community Health Leadership, please visit www.misyscenter.com.
Company Contact:
Mike Holsinger
(919) 329-1771
mike.holsinger@misyshealthcare.com
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About the Center for Community Health Leadership
The Center for Community Health Leadership, launched by Misys Healthcare Systems in June 2006, facilitates the development of health information pathways by building connected, prepared and responsible communities. The communities selected to receive a grant will improve healthcare and reduce costs in everyday care delivery, as well as in crisis situations such as epidemics and natural disasters. The Center will transform the healthcare system one community at a time via grants of Misys software and contributions of hardware and services from industry partners. For more information on the Center for Community Health Leadership, visit www.misyscenter.com.
About Doctors' Administrative Solutions, LLC
Tampa, Florida-based Doctors’ Administrative Solutions (“DAS”) is an independent reseller and integrator of Practice Management and Electronic Health Record (“EHR” or “EMR”) systems and business services for physician practices nationwide.
About Misys plc
Misys plc (FTSE: MSY.L), provides integrated, comprehensive solutions that deliver significant results to organizations in the financial services and healthcare industries. We maximize value for our customers by combining our deep knowledge of their business with our commitment to their success.
In banking and treasury & capital markets, Misys is the market leader, with over 1,200 customers, including all of the world’s top 50 banks. In healthcare, Misys is the market leader, serving more than 110,000 physicians in 18,000 practice locations and 600 home care providers. Misys employs 4,500 people who serve customers in more than 120 countries.
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