Health care information technology vendors made many announcements during the second day of the 2009 HIMSS Conference in Chicago April 6. They include:
* NextGen Healthcare Information Systems has launched a subscription-based, remotely hosted version of its practice management and electronic health records software. The Horsham, Pa.-based company is targeting small physician practices following enactment of the economic stimulus legislation with its Medicare/Medicaid incentive payments. Monthly prices start at $599 per provider for one product or $799 per provider for both products. Nominal set-up and implementation/training fees will be applicable in addition to the subscription fee. NextGen also has announced a money-back guarantee, which has terms and conditions, for its suite of software products.
* InnerWireless Inc. has launched a "wireless as a service" option to enable health organizations to pay a fixed monthly rate for its wireless network services. This offers an alternative to hospitals and other organizations paying for wireless capability through the capital budgeting process, according to the Richardson, Texas-based vendor.
* Medical imaging software vendor Merge Healthcare has committed $1 million to support the World Health Imaging Alliance during the next two years. The Chicago-based alliance advocates bringing low-cost imaging services to underserved communities. Donations from Milwaukee-based Merge will include staff time, software licenses, hardware and cash. More information on the World Health Imaging Alliance is available at www.worldhealthimaging.org.
* Physician software vendor iMedica Corp. has introduced a scaled-down practice management/electronic health records system for physician practices. The company is targeting practices that want to receive Medicare/Medicaid incentives under the stimulus law but don't want or can't afford a full-fledged EHR. Features in the product, called Transition, include e-prescribing, document management, lab results, and automated PQRI capabilities, among other features. It includes full note documentation.
* Picture archiving and communications systems vendor AMICAS Inc., Boston, has closed its acquisition of Emageon Inc., which also sells PACS products and medical visualization software. The acquisition gets AMICAS into the large delivery system market.
* NaviMedix Inc., which operates an electronic data interchange network linking providers and payers, has changed its name. The company has long called its network NaviNet; now, that's also the corporate name.
* Physician practice management/electronic health records vendor Noteworthy Medical Systems Inc. has named Susan Hagerty as chair and CEO. She succeeds Lawrence Dolin, who will continue to serve on the board of directors and work with the company as a consultant. Hagerty was president at CompuGROUP Holding AG, which recently became the majority owner of the Cleveland-based vendor.
*James Hewitt, CIO at Springfield (Ill.) Clinic, has co-developed a patient self-service kiosk that incorporates palm-scanning biometrics security technology from Fujitsu. Patients using the kiosk scan their palm’s vein pattern, which is matched against a database to authenticate their identity. They can use the kiosk, which is linked to practice management and electronic records applications from Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc., Chicago, to update billing information, make payments using a credit card and view certain clinical information. Hewitt co-developed the kiosk with Allscripts, which is marketing it. Springfield Clinic is rolling out 50 kiosks this quarter.
*Nuance Communications Inc., which sells Dragon Medical speech recognition software, has launched an effort to formally recognize electronic health records applications that have been optimized to work with Dragon. Under its Dragon Medical EHR Certification program, Burlington, Mass.-based Nuance requires vendors to submit to an evaluation and work with the company’s engineers to ensure interoperability. Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Chicago, is the first EHR vendor to participate.
*James Sweeney is the new chairman and CEO of IntelliDOT Corp., a San Diego-based company that sells wireless bar coding systems to hospitals. He replaces Thomas Klopack, who is leaving the company. Sweeney formerly was founder and CEO of eight other companies, including Bridge Medical.
--Joseph Goedert and Howard Anderson
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