Siemens Introduces Healthcare Connectivity Solution

MALVERN, Pa. -- Helping to deliver on the national vision of a connected and interoperable healthcare infrastructure, Siemens Medical Solutions kicked off a multi-city educational road show titled "Community Connectivity: Healing Takes Time, Information Shouldn't," beginning in Philadelphia. The event highlighted the introduction of Soarian® Community Access, a Web-based connectivity solution that provides 24X7, secure, anywhere, anytime information access and online communication to support true collaboration among physicians, patients, and other members of the healthcare continuum.

This month, health and information technology organizations, in unprecedented collaboration, endorsed a "common framework" for the electronic exchange of healthcare data to help increase patient safety and protect patient privacy. The healthcare industry must be able to deliver information where and when it is needed in a private and secure manner to drive greater efficiencies in patient care.

Soarian Community Access connects the network of health partners including hospitals, independent physician practices, payers, labs, pharmacists, medical office/billing staff, physicians, and patients -- creating a secure, online regional healthcare exchange. Patients can request prescription refills, schedule appointments, seek referrals, ask billing questions, communicate directly with their physician, and maintain a personal electronic health record, which empowers patients to participate more fully in their healthcare process.

Speakers discussed current initiatives and successes in connecting communities for better health and standardizing the electronic health record, including a focus on the emerging technologies and barriers encountered on the road to success.

The educational road show also outlined strategies to consider for securing grant opportunities and funding technology initiatives as well as implementation roadmaps for successful outcomes for the hospital, medical practice, and the entire community.

The Pierce County Medical Society and Northwest Physicians Network (Tacoma, Washington), a participant in the event, are co-sponsors of a major physician initiative to electronically connect all physicians in the Pierce County area with each other, their patients, and all community partners who generate clinical information on patients. Named The South Sound Health Communication Network, this pilot of 33 community providers has been using Soarian Community Access since October 2004 to securely communicate between healthcare providers and patients. Community partner recruitment also is underway.

At the physician practice level, Soarian Community Access gives physicians the tools to respond to patient needs, ensure privacy, address liability issues, and get reimbursed for their time and expertise. In addition, intuitive reminder functions aid in monitoring patient tests and procedures. Tasks can be delegated with the added benefit of a complete audit trail. The entire physician office staff benefits from an interactive, secure workflow where they can send each other secure messages, respond to or forward received messages, and view patient demographic and clinical information. The result is a reduction in time-consuming calls, improved staff efficiency, and ultimately, more satisfied patients.

As the next stop on the road show, Soarian Community Access will make its official market debut in Dallas, Texas, where 20,000 healthcare and information technology professionals are expected to attend the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference, being held February 13-17, 2005. Siemens Medical Solutions will display its extensive portfolio of healthcare IT solutions in booth #617.

Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG, with headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Erlangen, Germany, is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry in the world. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes.

Source: Business Wire