Lahey Health Invests In New Electronic Health Record System For Better Coordinated Care

Project will create more than 100 new jobs and make patient care more comprehensive and coordinated with innovative Epic system

Burlington, MA /PRNewswire/ -- Lahey Health announced today a major investment in a new state-of-the-art electronic health record (EHR) software that will improve access to patient information and achieve greater care coordination throughout the Lahey Health system.

Lahey Health has signed an agreement with Epic, a worldwide leader in health information technology, to implement the new EHR in a phased approach, which is scheduled to begin in June 2013. With the investment Lahey Health is expected to create more than 100 new jobs for the implementation of the EHR across the system.

"This is major investment in changing the way that that health care is delivered," said Howard Grant, JD, MD, president and chief executive officer, Lahey Health. "It will enable our medical staff, affiliated physicians and other care providers to have secure, streamlined access to comprehensive electronic health information and data for their patients, in real time. It will allow for better and timelier decisions, and it will create efficiencies."

"Most importantly," added Grant, "it will allow patients to become more engaged and more empowered in managing their health because it will allow providers and patients to share access to information."

Through Epic, enhanced coordination will occur across Lahey Health's award-winning hospitals, physicians, and comprehensive senior health and behavioral services. Key aspects of the Epic system include:

• Fully integrated systems that enable enhanced coordination of care across the entire continuum
• Enhanced communication among all care providers and their patients
• Complete and accurate information for each care provider and their patients
• Industry best practices that improve efficiency and consistency of care through integrated data and advanced analytics
• Improved patient engagement, service and satisfaction
• Enhanced ability to better manage chronic disease and targeted patient populations
• Dedicated security team to protect patient information

Another key aspect of the Epic system is its ability to help better control costs and improve overall patient wellness through the streamlining of clinical and administrative processes, reduction of unnecessary and duplicative services, and promotion of proactive health management, particularly in the areas of chronic disease.

"Our focus is on keeping our patients well, and this system offers us the latest tools to better manage chronic disease, ensure proactive health and wellness in a community-based setting, and more effectively control health care costs," said Grant. "Health care is changing rapidly across the nation, and this new system provides us with the type of robust platform to provide a higher quality experience, manage care more efficiently and to integrate additional innovations into our care delivery model."

More than 100 new jobs will be created at Lahey Heath to implement and support the Epic system and to ensure it is utilized effectively by all Lahey Health providers. Positions will include a wide range of functions, from clinical analysts and content specialists, to trainers, instructional designers, informational technology specialists and support personnel.

"Lahey Health is making a long-term investment in this system and we are confident that it will enable us to enhance the health of our communities," said Grant.

About Lahey Health

Lahey Health is what's next in healthcare providing a full continuum of integrated health services close to where you live or work. It is comprised of nationally-recognized, award-winning hospitals – including an academic hospital and medical center, and community hospitals -- primary care providers, specialist physicians, behavioral health services, post-acute programs such as home health services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, and senior care resources located throughout northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

Lahey Health offers over a 1,000 locally-based physicians providing clinical excellence and an exceptional patient experience in adult and pediatric primary care and every medical specialty, including kidney and liver transplantation; cancer, cardiovascular and orthopedic medical and surgical care; local emergency and trauma care; urological surgery; chronic disease prevention and health management; and pediatric emergency, newborn and inpatient care provided in collaboration with Boston Children's Hospital physicians.

Lahey Health includes Lahey Hospital & Medical Center -- a teaching hospital of Tufts University School of Medicine -- and Lahey Clinic physician group with practices in Burlington, Peabody and other locations throughout northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Beverly Hospital; Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester, MA; Lahey Health Senior Care and Lahey Health Behavioral Services as well as more than 30 primary care physician practices and multiple outpatient and satellite specialty care facilities.

Together, we are making innovative, integrated healthcare more personal and more accessible. For more information, visit LaheyHealth.org and its member websites Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Beverly Hospital, and Lahey Health Behavioral Services.