HORSHAM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NextGen Information Systems, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: QSII) and a leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, announced today it along with its sister company, Mirth, a global leader in health information technology, are successfully powering the first statewide behavioral health information exchange in the nation; Behavioral Health Information Network of Arizona (BHINAZ).
Driven by healthcare reform, BHINAZ is a collaborative initiative comprised of community stakeholders, behavioral health providers, public agencies, the Health Information Network of Arizona and consumers. Its common goal spans composition and capabilities required for a secure data exchange system that enables Arizona’s behavioral health care providers to access vital healthcare information at the point of care. The primary purpose of the BHINAZ is to deliver healthcare information services securely, reliably and affordably to clinicians, consumers, state and Regional Behavioral Health Authorities, federal health agencies and communities throughout Arizona.
BHINAZ was the brainchild of a consortium of behavioral health providers who are customers of Topaz Information Solutions, an authorized NextGen® reseller and outsource partner that specializes in behavioral health and social services. Topaz, in partnership with NextGen Healthcare, applied their behavioral health expertise in building specific content within the technology platform to meet specific needs of behavioral health and social services organizations.
Leveraging NextGen® Ambulatory EHR, NextGen® Health Information Exchange (HIE) and Mirth® Connect, BHINAZ has created the legal and operational framework necessary to protect confidentiality while helping to facilitate data exchange and streamline the process for behavioral health providers to obtain and manage patient consent, specifically as it relates to exchanging patient information. As a result, BHINAZ will provide clinicians throughout the state with a longitudinal patient history at the point of care — this will make information available when and where it's needed for medical care. This will allow providers to better understand an individual holistically thereby delivering the safest and most appropriate treatment recommendations.
Operating under an “Opt-in” Consent Management model, BHINAZ will ensure that data protected under Federal Law 42 CFR part 2 is not re-disclosed without proper consent. Within the NextGen EHR, customized behavioral health consent management templates were created by working collaboratively with BHINAZ to include required content management language and capture electronic signatures at the point of care. Using these templates, information will be sent to the NextGen HIE, which then dictates specifically what data a given provider can access within the EHR. By developing the robust consent management system, patients and clients have the option to choose if they would like their data to be shared with the rest of the closed network at each BHINAZ location. This type of consent model for behavioral health provides patients with additional options for sharing their health information and allows them to identify certain providers who can access more sensitive aspects of their health records through BHINAZ at the point of care.
Information of all types may be exchanged — continuity of care documents (CCDs), lab results, dictated reports, discharge summaries and scanned documents as well as other key reports. BHINAZ supports the ability to transmit real-time alerts directly to the EHR or via email. This information is critical for clients in crisis that require immediate case management and follow-up after receiving crisis services or visiting an emergency room.
“Information vital to making complete, accurate and timely decisions regarding critical behavioral health care decisions is often not available, particularly in a mental health emergency,” said Laura Young, executive director, BHINAZ. “With new levels of clinical data communication and the architected consent management services created by NextGen and Mirth, we now have access to both health and behavioral health patient data right at the point of care. This will transform the way we can help patients in times of need.”
A key component to BHINAZ’s success is its ability to connect with all certified EHR systems, allowing for the sharing of information across multiple systems and organizations. This is in direct contrast to some health information networks that limit connectivity and services by requiring software from a specific vendor. Leveraging Mirth’s vendor-agnostic interoperability platform, BHINAZ can deliver real-time alerts to behavioral health providers about each patient and every emergency room visit. BHINAZ connects a broad array of health systems, users and applications, elevating the volume and value of information within the network while making comprehensive electronic health records possible.
“Traditionally, behavioral health care providers, primary care physicians and hospitals have maintained separate medical records for their patients, which can lead to difficulty when communicating relevant information and potentially, create gaps in care,” said Michael Lovett, executive vice president and general manager for NextGen Healthcare. “We are now bridging these gaps and pioneering new ways to help make behavioral health care safer and more efficient with our technology by fostering the exchange of critical patient information and meeting stringent Behavior Health Consent management requirements.”
The NextGen® Solution Suite will be on display in Booth 906-908 at the National Council for Behavioral Health Conference, May 5-7 in Washington, D.C.
About Topaz Information Solutions
Founded in 2000 by two community behavioral health organizations, Topaz is an authorized NextGen® reseller, specializing in behavioral health and social services and is active in other behavior health statewide initiatives. For more information, visit www.topazis.com.
About Behavioral Health Information Network of Arizona (BHINAZ)
BHINAZ brings together behavioral health providers, consumers, and public agencies around a shared vision: using information technology to make behavioral health care safer and more efficient throughout Arizona. The development of a behavioral health driven information network will improve quality, safety, create efficiencies, reduce health disparities, engage patients and their families, improve care coordination, protect patient health information, and improve the population and public health while protecting and maintaining the integrity of the behavioral health system. For more information, visit www.bhinaz.com.
About Mirth Corporation
Mirth Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc., is a global leader in health information technology that helps clients achieve interoperability across silo-structured data systems. Mirth’s solutions are used daily by thousands of health professionals and institutions worldwide to streamline care management processes and to securely exchange health information across enterprises, communities and broad geographies. For more information, visit www.mirth.com.
About NextGen Healthcare
NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc., provides integrated clinical, connectivity and financial solutions, including revenue cycle management services for ambulatory, inpatient and dental provider organizations. For more information, please visit www.nextgen.com and www.qsii.com. Follow NextGen Healthcare on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nextgen, Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NextGenHealthcare or LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/nextgen-healthcare-information-systems.
Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including
but not limited to those statements made by Michael Lovett related to
interoperability, the Company’s future products and offerings, and
developments and trends in the healthcare industry. These statements are
based on current expectations of future events. If underlying
assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties
materialize, actual results could vary materially from the Company’s
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anticipated results to differ from those described in the
forward-looking statements include the possibility that the products of
Cerner or the Company will not achieve or sustain market acceptance; the
impact of incentive payments under The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act on sales and the ability of the Company to meet
continued certification requirements; the development by competitors of
new or superior technologies; the timing, cost and success or failure of
new product and service introductions, development and product upgrade
releases; undetected errors or bugs in our software; changing economic,
political or regulatory influences in the healthcare industry;
availability of third-party products and components; competitive
pressures including product offerings, pricing and promotional
activities; the Company's ability or inability to attract and retain
qualified personnel; possible regulation of the Company's software by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and general economic conditions.
Additional risks and uncertainties are set forth in the Company’s
public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
including the discussion under the heading "Risk Factors" in the
Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company expressly disclaims
any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements
except as required by law.
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