NEWS RELEASE
January 10, 2005
Provincial database will greatly improve bone and joint health care
January 10, 2005 (Calgary, AB) - The Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute in partnership with the Alberta Orthopaedic Society announced today it will provide funding for the development of software applications to help create more efficient and higher quality health care for Albertans. The Institute is spending $100,000 to customize a provincial Electronic Medial Record (EMR) software suite by Nightingale Informatix Corporation that will be part of the infrastructure of the innovative new model of bone and joint health service delivery presently evolving in Alberta.
"This technology will help doctors give better bone and joint care to patients because it will let them share first hand, real-time patient information as the patient moves throughout the system resulting in more efficient and effective care," said Ian Robinson, Chairman of the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute. "The Institute's goal is to invest in the health and wellness of all Albertans, and Nightingale's software, once customized to Alberta, will help do just that."
Starting in the first quarter of 2005, the EMR will be available to bone and joint physicians, physiotherapists and related health care providers as well as the 150 members of the Orthopaedic Society. The software suite will address privacy issues through a highly secure, regulated access for orthopaedic surgeons to manage patient information in a collaborative electronic environment. Captured clinical data will be anonymously aggregated and analyzed to improve the long term efficiency and quality of health care delivery.
"This infrastructure is designed to be patient-centric," said Dr. Don Dick, President of the Alberta Orthopaedic Society. "It will speed up the treatment process for patients and cut wait times to see specialists and surgery - professionals will have the means to share important informatoin like best practices and patient data."
The Orthopaedic Society will license the customized EMR from Nightingale and be responsible for its implementation for bone and joint health care professionals throughout Alberta. User fees will pay for the licensng of the technology. This speciflc software was selected after a close evaluation of various products demonstrated Nightingale's EMR will best suit the needs of orthopaedic surgeons, other bone and joint providers and the Institute.
"The Institue and the Orthoapedic Society have taken a leadership role in accelerating the adoption of technology amongst health care professionals for the ultimate benefit of the patient," said Sam Chebib, Nightingale's CEO. "We believe this partnership is a validation of the benefits of a model where a unique electronic patient record, accessible in real time, is the cornerstone of any efficiency initiative to improve cost and quality of health care."
The Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute is an umbrella organization for bone and joint research, education and health care delivery in the province. It is composed of a network of partners including health care professionals, the provincial health regions, the Alberta government and universities throughout the province. The Institute was created as a catalyst for the implementation of a model of health service delivery developed by Alberta doctors that focuses on resource coordination, fiscal management and the effective use of new and proven medical standards and technololgy.
Nightingale Informatix Corporation is Canada's largest application service provider of practice and clinical management solutions and services for outpatient clinics. Nightingale's suite of products offers Canadian & US physicians leading-edge functionality for patient scheduling, claims processing, work flow tools, clinical documentation, laboratory interfaces, document management and real-time patient services. OpenX Technologies and VisionMD are wholly owned subsidiaries of Nightingale Informatix Corporation. Nightingale services customers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
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Media contact:
Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute
Len Cocolicchio
Chief, Communications
(403) 670-0886
lcocolicchio@albertaboneandjoint.com
Nightingale Informatix Corporation
Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson and Associates
(819) 685-9871 or (416) 729-5257
bob@robertwilsonandassociates.com
Nightingale Informatix Corporation
John Andres
V.P. Sales and Marketing
(905) 943-2618
janders@nightingale.md
