CareSpark, a Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) providing services to 17 counties in southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee, has chosen CGI Group Inc. (CGI) (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) as project manager and application hosting provider for the development of CareSpark’s health information exchange infrastructure.
CGI will leverage its integration experience for numerous, complex, large-scale healthcare systems in United States and Canada including Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and Alberta Health and Wellness. CGI manages clinical information integration efforts in dozens of large healthcare networks, solving complex technology issues as well as addressing change management challenges.
CareSpark’s Health Information Exchange (HIE) project typifies networks that are composed of disparate clinical systems, various standards, and sometimes competing security and privacy interests. The HIE project represents a foundational element in the RHIO’s long term plans to improve health quality and reduce costs.
“It is proven that appropriate use of technology can help improve patient care and safety, resulting in better health and lower costs,” says Liesa Jenkins, CareSpark’s Executive Director. “The complexity of health technology makes it essential to work with partners like CGI that bring health care experience and steadfast commitment to finding cost-effective and workable solutions through collaboration.”
“Regional availability of patient data promises to be the next evolutionary step in healthcare technology, providing physicians with electronic access to patient records across the continuum of care,” says John George, Director, Healthcare Solutions, CGI. “We are proud to be working with CareSpark in furthering their mission to reduce health disparities in their region, improving local quality of life and making the Tri-Cities a great place to live and work.”
CGI is committed to the region, announcing in February 2007, the signature of a 10-year lease with Russell County to occupy its new software engineering and development center. This center employs currently more than 100 IT professionals and is expected to bring approximately 200 additional high-tech employment opportunities to rural, southwestern Virginia.
CareSpark will support over 1,200 physicians and 18 hospitals that deliver care to 750,000 people in the region. CareSpark's network will initially connect health care organizations including Mountain States Health Alliance, Wellmont Health System, Holston Medical Group, Johnston Memorial Hospital and Sullivan County Regional Health Department, with 600,000 unique patient records to be included in the data sharing system, beginning in spring of 2007. Broader sharing of clinical data amongst additional health care and public health organizations in the CareSpark region is planned for 2008 and thereafter.
About CareSpark
CareSpark is a non-profit organization established in 2005 after a comprehensive strategic planning process to develop and implement a collaborative system for health improvements in a 17-county region of northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia. Working in partnership with local healthcare providers, employers, health insurers and government leaders, CareSpark has achieved visibility at state and national levels, sharing best practices for community-wide planning and collaboration.
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is one of the largest independent information technology and business process services firms in the world. CGI and its affiliated companies employ approximately 25,000 professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in North America, Europe and India. CGI's annualized revenue run rate stands at $3.6 billion (US$3.1 billion) and at December 31st, 2006, CGI's order backlog was $12.6 billion (US$10.9 billion). CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB) and are included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index as well as the S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology and MidCap Indices. Website: www.cgi.com.
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For more information:
CGI
John George
Director, Healthcare Solutions
703-227-6107
john.george@cgi.com
Yvonne Gibson
Director, Communications
905-695-6421
yvonne.gibson@cgi.com
CareSpark, Inc.
Liesa Jenkins
Executive Director
423-963-4208
ljenkins@carespark.com
