News and Events

ACS, A Xerox Company, Acquires CredenceHealth, Inc.; Adds Cloud-Based Solution To Help Healthcare Providers Enhance Quality of Care

DALLAS, March 21, 2011 – Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (ACS), A Xerox Company (NYSE: XRX), today announced a definitive agreement to acquire CredenceHealth, Inc.; creating a simple way for healthcare providers to use patient information to predict and prevent complications.

Nashville, Tenn.-based CredenceHealth provides software that captures and analyzes patient data to assist hospitals, health plans, and providers improve quality of care and compliance with meaningful use regulations.

By integrating CredenceHealth’s clinical surveillance tools with ACS’ core suite of managed care solutions under the Midas software brand, ACS will now offer a cloud-based solution that actively monitors patient data – original diagnosis, laboratory and radiology reports, medications, vital signs, etc. This data is accessible to hospital staff from any Internet browser using a secure password-protected system.

The new solution, named Midas+ Live, works with a hospital’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, and alerts caregivers when any of thousands of possible changes in a patient’s condition happen simultaneously – such as an increase in temperature or low blood pressure, combined with various lab and radiology results. This information can then be used to inform the caregiver prior to a decline in the patient’s condition.

“Through our advanced technology that analyzes the insights found inside the massive amounts of information regarding a patient’s condition, we’re giving healthcare providers real-time relevant knowledge so they can better focus on giving patients the care they need,” said Tom Simas, managing director for ACS’ Midas+ solutions.

The CredenceHealth software-as-a-service offering is certified by the Office of the National Coordinator as a clinical quality measures reporting module for meaningful use. Therefore, providers using Midas+ Live will be eligible for stimulus dollars from the HITECH and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“We have experienced great gains in quality outcomes and efficiencies since adding CredenceHealth’s tools to our organization. Our colleagues benefit from having this information and intelligence at their fingertips,” said Scott Raynes, president and CEO, NorthCrest Medical Center in Springfield, Tenn. “The addition of CredenceHealth to our existing ACS Midas+ processes and products creates a powerful combination, helping us accomplish all of the new regulatory requirements, freeing us to deliver even better care to our patients.”

All CredenceHealth products and services will be integrated into Midas+ solutions, which help to improve staff efficiency, enhance patient safety and increase hospital profitability. CredenceHealth’s management team and employees will join ACS. Justin Lanning, CEO, CredenceHealth, will serve as vice president of business development, ACS Midas+.

About Xerox
Xerox Corporation is a $22 billion leading global enterprise for business process and document management. Through its broad portfolio of technology and services, Xerox provides the essential back-office support that clears the way for clients to focus on what they do best: their real business. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Xerox provides leading-edge document technology, services, software and genuine Xerox supplies for graphic communication and office printing environments of any size. Through ACS, A Xerox Company, which Xerox acquired in February 2010, Xerox also offers extensive business process outsourcing and IT outsourcing services, including data processing, HR benefits management, finance support, and customer relationship management services for commercial and government organizations worldwide. The 136,000 people of Xerox serve clients in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit http://www.xerox.com/, http://news.xerox.com/, http://www.realbusiness.com or http://www.acs-inc.com. For investor information, visit http://www.xerox.com/investor.

About CredenceHealth, Inc.
CredenceHealth automates Core and eMeasure compliance and identifies emerging complications via a unique Clinical Intelligence Engine. CredenceHealth web-based infrastructure delivers meaningful and actionable clinical surveillance in real-time – while patients are still in the hospital – utilizing evidence-based medical research and best practice standards (e.g., CMS, HITSP, CDC, NSQIP, and other published standards). For more information visit http://www.credencehealth.md.

###

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Selects CredenceHealth for Meaningful Use

NASHVILLE, March 21, 2011 – Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center (NFMMC) has selected CredenceHealth for Clinical Quality Measures (eMeasures) and real-time clinical surveillance, an integral component to achieving Meaningful Use of healthcare information technology (HIT).

NFMMC is a highly respected institution with a history of innovation in healthcare. CredenceHealth was selected to complement their existing systems and care processes by delivering an elegant solution to assist with the calculation and submission of Clinical Quality Measures for Meaningful Use. Additionally, NFMMC will utilize CredenceHealth solutions to bring cutting edge clinical surveillance to bear in advancing their mission of “improving the health of the Greater Niagara Region with a passion for excellence.”

“We are excited to have found a well-designed, lightweight solution to help us in reaching our Meaningful Use goals and a system that will help us utilize existing healthcare data to improve the quality of care through clinical surveillance,” said Peggy Grandinetti, the medical center’s chief information officer.

CredenceHealth solutions will interface with NFMMC’s current Siemens EMR system and serve as a valuable, incremental tool to leverage existing electronic data to improve care.

The recipient of numerous honors, NFMMC has been recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for quality care, including the Get With The Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Performance Award. It is one of only 137 hospitals nationwide recently selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to participate in Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q), a quality improvement initiative that aims to improve the quality, efficiency and equity of care across the country and in the Greater Niagara Region.

About Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has been meeting the health care needs of the Greater Niagara community for more than a century. What began as a small emergency hospital in 1895 has evolved into Niagara’s Premier Health Network, with extensive inpatient and outpatient services and an impressive array of wellness programs and support groups. For more information, visit www.nfmmc.org.

About CredenceHealth, Inc.
CredenceHealth automates Core and eMeasure compliance and identifies emerging complications via a unique Clinical Intelligence Engine. CredenceHealth web-based infrastructure delivers meaningful and actionable clinical surveillance in real-time – while patients are still in the hospital – utilizing evidence-based medical research and best practice standards (e.g., CMS, HITSP, CDC, NSQIP, and other published standards). For more information visit http://www.credencehealth.md.

###

The Right Information at the Right Time: A Chat with Justin Lanning

CHATTANOOGA, March 16, 2011 – Justin recently spoke with HIT Exchange about the marriage of evidence-based clinical research and real-time clinical data, the importance of collaboration between strong clinical and technological leaders, and some of the challenges involved in bringing new HIT solutions to market...read the interview here.

CredenceHealth's CHlive Meaningful Use Certified (ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 Certification)

NASHVILLE, January 6, 2011 – CredenceHealth announced today that CHlive 1.0 achieved certification for Meaningful Use in Clinical Quality Measures (i.e. eMeasures). CredenceHealth is the first real-time Clinical Surveillance solution to receive this stand-alone certification.

"CCHIT is pleased to be testing and certifying products so that companies are now able to offer these products to providers who wish to purchase and implement certified EHR technology and achieve meaningful use in time for the 2011-2012 incentives,” said Karen M. Bell, M.D., M.S.S., Chair, CCHIT.

“This certification is a crucial component of the CHlive product suite for our clients to meet their meaningful use requirements, Stage 1 and beyond. This new module in combination with the entire CredenceHealth product suite creates an even more powerful set of knowledge delivered through our real-time clinical surveillance,” said CredenceHealth President & CEO, Justin Lanning.

Certification Details:
For all technical details on CredenceHealth’s certification visit: http://www.cchit.org/products/2011-2012/arrafinalrulehospital/2853

CHlive 1.0 was certified as an EHR Module on January 6, 2011 by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®), an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable eligible hospital certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The 2011/2012 criteria support the Stage 1 meaningful use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification program tests and certifies that Complete EHRs meet all of the 2011/2012 criteria and EHR Modules meet one or more – but not all – of the criteria approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for either eligible provider or hospital technology.

CHlive 1.0 certification number is CC-1112- 115040-1. ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification conferred by CCHIT does not represent an endorsement of the certified EHR technology by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services nor does it guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

CHlive 1.0, meets the following certification criteria: 170.306(i) Calculate and submit clinical quality measures in addition to all security and IT standards.

The Clinical Quality Measures to which CHlive has been certified include: NQF 0371; NQF 0372; NQF 0373; NQF 0374; NQF 0375; NQF 0376; NQF 0435; NQF 0436; NQF 0437; NQF 0438; NQF 0439; NQF 0440; NQF 0441; NQF 0495; NQF 0497

About CCHIT
The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®) is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the public mission of accelerating the adoption of robust, interoperable health information technology. The Commission has been certifying electronic health record technology since 2006 and is approved by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB). More information on CCHIT, CCHIT Certified® products and ONC-ATCB certified electronic health record technology is available at http://cchit.org

About ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification
The ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification program tests and certifies that EHR technology is capable of meeting the 2011/2012 criteria approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The certifications include Complete EHRs, which meet all of the 2011/2012 criteria for either eligible provider or hospital technology and EHR Modules, which meet one or more – but not all – of the criteria. ONC-ATCB certification aligns with Health Information Technology: Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology published in the Federal Register in July 2010 and strictly adheres to the test procedures published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the time of testing. ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification conferred by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®) does not represent an endorsement of the certified EHR technology by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services nor does it guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

“CCHIT®” and “CCHIT Certified®” are registered trademarks of the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology.

About CredenceHealth, Inc.
CredenceHealth automates Core and eMeasure compliance and identifies emerging complications via a unique Clinical Intelligence Engine. CredenceHealth web-based infrastructure delivers meaningful and actionable clinical surveillance in real-time – while patients are still in the hospital – utilizing evidence-based medical research and best practice standards (e.g., CMS, HITSP, CDC, NSQIP, and other published standards). For more information visit http://www.credencehealth.md.

###

CredenceHealth the Preferred Solution for Clinical Surveillance in TX, OK, and MT

CredenceHealth selected as an endorsed solution by Texas Hospital Association

NASHVILLE, September 30, 2010 – CredenceHealth has been selected by the Texas Hospital Association as an endorsed solution for hospitals throughout Texas and Oklahoma. The endorsement comes following a rigorous evaluation by THA and its marketing subsidiary, HealthSHARE. The THA-endorsed company seal of approval is given to companies delivering leading-edge products and services that increase the quality and efficiency of care, and is only granted to those companies that have met or exceeded the requirements of the THA and HealthSHARE independent evaluation.

For more than 40 years, HealthSHARE has partnered with the top companies in the industry to bring Texas and Oklahoma the best available products and services. As a THA-endorsed company, CredenceHealth adds health care information technology solutions to the portfolio of endorsed company offerings. CredenceHealth’s Web-based solutions leverage existing HIT investments in hospitals and provide immediate value in terms of both quality and efficiency by translating clinical data into clinical intelligence in real-time. The value and functionality that the CredenceHealth suite provides will enhance both the immediate and long-term quality initiatives of hospitals throughout the region.

According to Jim Dixon, President & CEO of HealthSHARE, “It is imperative, in today’s market, that hospitals be able to actively monitor and measure the quality of the care that they give and be able to act upon the information that is captured within various systems effectively. CredenceHealth solutions provide that capability in a way that can easily be integrated into the operational routine within hospitals, resulting in improved care and reduced costs.”

CredenceHealth began working in 2007 to develop and implement this system and today marks a major milestone in the life of the company. CredenceHealth President & CEO, Justin Lanning, said of the partnership, “It’s always special when two organizations with aligned missions work together toward a common goal. THA, through this endorsement, is taking innovative steps to improve the quality of care and reduce costs. The formation of this partnership will help to achieve those goals and to deliver tremendous capabilities to burdened health care providers.”


CredenceHealth to deliver clinical surveillance to Anaconda, MT

NASHVILLE, September 30, 2010 – The Community Hospital of Anaconda, MT (CHA) has also selected CredenceHealth as its preferred solution for clinical surveillance. Following an extensive evaluation, CHA has selected CredenceHealth’s flagship product, CHlive to further improve their already outstanding record of quality. CHA has been the recipient of the Highest Quality Award from the Mountain Pacific Quality Health Foundation for five years in a row.

Dr. William Reiter, Chief Medical Officer of CHA said of their selection, “When choosing CredenceHealth, we were impressed with their ability to evaluate such a comprehensive set of clinical information in real-time, enabling and informing our clinicians in a manner which helps assure we provide timely and appropriate care. We don’t often find systems that are able to successfully transcend barriers of size, but CredenceHealth strikes that balance and delivers functionality to small hospitals as well as to the larger institutions.”

CredenceHealth is gaining significant traction in the market and Justin Lanning, President & CEO, said of the most recent expansion, “It is exciting for us to see our national footprint expand with such informed partners. These collaborations exemplify our commitment to meeting the needs of clinicians across the country to provide the most effective and timely care.”

About Texas Hospital Association - Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents more than 85 percent of the state’s acute-care hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 355,000 health care professionals statewide. Learn more at www.tha.org or follow THA on Twitter at twitter.com/texashospitals.

About the Community Hospital of Anacoda - Community Hospital of Anaconda is a critical access hospital, located in Anaoconda, MT, providing general medical and surgical care for inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room patients, and participates in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Learn more at www.communityhospitalofanaconda.org.

About CredenceHealth, Inc.
CredenceHealth automates Core and eMeasure compliance and identifies emerging complications via a unique Clinical Intelligence Engine. CredenceHealth web-based infrastructure delivers meaningful and actionable clinical surveillance in real-time – while patients are still in the hospital – utilizing evidence-based medical research and best practice standards (e.g., CMS, HITSP, CDC, NSQIP, and other published standards). For more information visit http://www.credencehealth.md.

###

OhioHealth Selects CredenceHealth for Real-Time Clinical Surveillance Initiative

NASHVILLE, July 21, 2010 – CredenceHealth,a real-time clinical intelligence for hospitals and health plans, announced today that OhioHealth, an 8-hospital, 2000+ bed, not-for-profit hospital system in Columbus, Ohio, has selected CredenceHealth for its latest real-time clinical surveillance initiative.

OhioHealth has been recognized as a leader in healthcare quality by multiple healthcare ratings organizations. Its Riverside Methodist Hospital has received the National Research Corporation’s Patients’ Favorite Award every year since 1996. OhioHealth was also named by Thomson Reuters as a Top 10 National Healthcare System based on its clinical quality and efficiency. OhioHealth’s dedication to innovation and the improvement of patient care at every level led to the selection of CredenceHealth as a partner in OhioHealth’s real-time clinical surveillance initiative.

“We strive to provide the best care possible to our patients. We are constantly searching for innovations which can help us fulfill that mission. Clinical quality and safety are the pillars of the OhioHealth hospitals and we wanted to find a partner who can help us advance our ability to proactively exceed quality measures of care. We selected CredenceHealth as a partner that can work with us to further deliver on our quality mission by imbedding alerts directly into the current tools and workflow of our clinicians” says Michael Krouse, Chief Information Officer of OhioHealth.

Justin Lanning, President and CEO of CredenceHealth noted, “OhioHealth’s vision and drive for efficient effective quality care are apparent throughout the entire organization. Our team is excited about partnering with OhioHealth to provide our innovative real-time clinically focused solutions.”

About CredenceHealth, Inc.
CredenceHealth automates Core and eMeasure compliance and identifies emerging complications via a unique Clinical Intelligence Engine. CredenceHealth web-based infrastructure delivers meaningful and actionable clinical surveillance in real-time – while patients are still in the hospital – utilizing evidence-based medical research and best practice standards (e.g., CMS, HITSP, CDC, NSQIP, and other published standards). For more information visit http://www.credencehealth.md.

###

Virginia Hospital Center Selects CredenceHealth for Patient Quality Initiative

NASHVILLE, July 2, 2010 – CredenceHealth, a provider of real-time clinical intelligence for hospitals and health plans, announced today that Virginia Hospital Center , a 342-bed not-for-profit hospital in Arlington, Virginia, had selected CredenceHealth for the hospital's latest patient quality improvement initiative.

Virginia Hospital Center has been recognized as a leader in quality by a number of national, independent healthcare ratings companies like Hospital Value Index™, Healthgrades and CareChex®, which use measurements such as mortality, complications, inpatient quality, core measures, patient safety and patient satisfaction to evaluate hospital performance. In 2009, CareChex® ranked Virginia Hospital Center as #1 in Market in Major Cardiac Surgery, Top 10% in Virginia for Cancer Care and Top 10% Nationally in Major Cardiac Surgery, Neurological (Stroke) Care and Major Neurosurgery.

“We continue to strive to provide the best quality and safest environment of care for our patients, and based on our assessment of the market, believe CredenceHealth and its real-time CHlive solution provide the next level of insight into the care our patients are receiving”, says Geri Bishop, Associate Vice President of Quality at Virginia Hospital Center.

Justin Lanning, President and CEO of CredenceHealth stated, “We are excited to partner with such a nationally-recognized leader in quality of care. We are committed to helping Virginia Hospital Center continue its industry-leading focus on delivering high-quality care in the most effective and efficient manner.”

About CredenceHealth, Inc.
CredenceHealth automates Core and eMeasure compliance and identifies emerging complications via a unique Clinical Intelligence Engine. CredenceHealth web-based infrastructure delivers meaningful and actionable clinical surveillance in real-time – while patients are still in the hospital – utilizing evidence-based medical research and best practice standards (e.g., CMS, HITSP, CDC, NSQIP, and other published standards). For more information visit http://www.credencehealth.md.

###

A Conversation with Justin Lanning, CredenceHealth

June 25, 2010 | Nashville Business Journal

Nashville, TN – Justin Lanning is co-founder of CredenceHealth Inc., a health care startup company that helps hospitals track real-time data related to patient care and outcomes. Lanning, who previously spent seven years with Healthways Inc., is backed by a number of high-level investors including Bill Freeman of Freeman Webb Inc., Bappa Mukherji of Guy Brown Products and Tim Cigarran of Healthways.

What single thing makes your organization stand out?
Our colleagues. Collectively, our colleagues have an amazing vision, drive and passion to partner with clinicians to improve the quality of health care.
What word best describes your leadership style?
Socratic.
Professional pet peeve?
Starting with the reasons why you can’t accomplish something. I’m also not real fond of folks who don’t hold the door for others, don’t look you in eye and don’t wash their hands in the restroom.
What do you do to relieve stress?
Play music and exercise. I’m trying to pick up swimming as a form of exercise, but I’m pretty sure it’s stressing me out more.
What is the simplest thing you never learned to do?
Make deviled eggs. I love to eat them but have never tried to make them.
Pets?
Phoenix, our 11 year-old miniature Schnauzer.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
Our 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Nadia Elise, handed me a picture the other morning and wished me happy birthday. While it wasn’t my birthday, it was the best gift I have ever received.
Person outside of your family you would most like to spend time with on an island?
Nondenominational evangelist Alistair Begg.
You’ve just been given $100,000 to donate to charity. Where would you give it, and why?
I would have to split the funds three ways among Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Alignment Nashville and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.
When faced with two equally qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire?
Attitude: Do they display the characteristics consistent with our culture, beliefs and work ethic?
What would you like to cross off your “bucket list” next?
A trip starting in Egypt and ending in Jerusalem.
What line of work would you pursue if you couldn’t work in your present one?
Public office.
What would people would be surprised to learn?
Both of my parents are retired music teachers.
Biggest professional mistake and how you overcame it?
So many mistakes to choose from. I think the most important lesson I have learned is to surround myself with trusted advisors who will always be candid with me and help me be aware of and understand my blind spots.
What is the one trait that most often derails leaders’ careers?
Pride.
They’re making a movie of your life. Is it a drama or comedy and who plays you?
I’d have to say a ‘dramedy,’ one that covers the gambit of emotions. It would have to feature Bruce Willis.
What skill would you most like to improve?
Spelling. I never came close to the spelling bee.

Background
Name/age: Justin Lanning / 33
Title: President and CEO
Company: CredenceHealth Inc.
Address: 5200 Maryland Way, Ste. 106, Brentwood 37027
Web: credencehealth.md
Employees: 12
Most recently read book: “What the Dog Saw,” Malcolm Gladwell
Favorite music artist: Amos Lee
Education: Engineering physics, Missouri State University
Community involvement: Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Alignment Nashville, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Nashville Health Care Council, Leadership Health Care Council and Phoenix Club of Nashville. I am also a member of Christ Fellowship in Franklin where I teach 4-5 year-old Sunday school, help out in the nursery and am on the music team.

###

Health IT Roundup: Executives Comment on Nashville's Leadership Options

January 25, 2010 | Milt Capps | Venture Nashville

Nashville, TN – As reported in today's accompanying article, Nashville is mobilizing to strengthen its leading role in healthcare information technology and related domains.

Justin Lanning, CEO of CredenceHealth, said, in part, "Nashville is positioned better than anyone to set the example of how to integrate HIT to create true meaningful value. The operational expertise in this city is so vast, that I believe the result will be HIT companies that actually meet the needs of the hospitals—as demonstrated in several successful start-ups over the years in other sectors of healthcare. Executives in Nashville will not settle for less." Lanning also sagely observed, "One thing we tend to take for granted these days, is how innovative the industry leaders in Nashville were when they began to establish the roots of the healthcare industry here. Many of these same leaders are continuing to drive innovation and growth in Nashville through their involvement as founders, board members, investors, mentors, partners, etc. in the latest wave of innovative companies. I can tell you as the founder and CEO of a start-up company here in Nashville, none of this would be possible without the involvement of the original innovators and founders of what is now the city’s 'bricks and mortar.'"

HealthStream Founder and CEO Bobby Frist told VNC, "Across industries, we now know that success with any IT system depends on a deep understanding of the context where it will be used, the functions it must serve, and the workflow for whom it is designed. While actual programming of software can be accomplished anywhere, software that is going to be implemented in a healthcare setting would benefit enormously from the input of Nashville’s expansive healthcare resources. No other city comes close to Nashville’s concentration of talented personnel who understand the healthcare context. Consequently, I believe Nashville should see continued growth in the presence of healthcare IT companies.”

Scotte Hudsmith, a healthcare technology entrepreneur who is launching a new healthcare-oriented company he declined to describe on the record, said he hopes the Nashville Entrepreneur Center will help connect healthtech entrpreneurs with the healthcare operators who know healthcare delivery challenges, intimately, so that local entrepreneurs can "cut short" start-ups' development timelines and preserve capital that will help entrepreneurs and their "early shareholders" strengthen and preseve their companies' valuations.

Gary Peat, a general partner with Council Ventures, stressed during an interview this afternoon that his company and its sister TNInvestco fund, Council & Enhanced Tennessee Fund, are sharply focused on healthcare information technology, with emphasis on solutions that "bring out business processes" and "empower" clinicians and others, in the interest of better outcomes and better costs. He stressed that he is scouring the nation for investment opportunities in companies with offerings that improve clinical data exchange and clinical decision support. While Peat said Nashville is probably not at this point a "mecca... for ultimate object design" in software development, he believes expertise for marrying clinical, operational and other data to improve healthcare services and patient outcomes is uncommonly deep among Nashville companies.

David Jarrard, a founder of Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock Inc, a healthcare public-affairs firm, said this afternoon that to increase its leadership stature, the Nashville healthcare community must overcome "the 'curse of knowledge' that plagues the health IT sector, so that you can engage with a conversation with non-tech – but politically important – audiences (instead of speaking at them). It means talking about benefits and results instead of machinery and mechanisms," Jarrard said. He continued, explaining, "The opportunity here – especially now that we have a 're-do' on healthcare reform – is for the leaders of our health IT sector to rally behind one message and one assertive (if patient) campaign to get it out to the people who matter. That may sound easy, but it’s not. But in a time of uncertainty, a united group with a clear message and clear goals have the advantage."

eMids Vice President for Sales & Marketing, Mike Hollis expressed concern this morning that, while Nashville's opportunities are vast, workforce and education may hold the region back. His own firm has a dozen open IT positions, he said, and is reaching out to other cities to satisfy those requirements. "The provider footprint in our community is well known throughout the HIT sector," he said, adding, "Nashville is [in] essence the HIT buyer base. You would think that HIT companies would naturally gravitate to employ here, but the lack of technical talent leads them not to. Boston for example is a hub of HIT innovation…great universities with sound student bodies, solid innovation or technology transfer programs and industry companies that embraces programs to get new graduates into their growing companies." Hollis noted that eMids will soon open a Boston office. He explained: "As it relates to Nashville, we have long professed how a bridge between these two healthcare hubs makes complete sense. There is a big base of HIT companies there, trying to build relationships in our market. It seems that we should recruit these type companies to gravitate where a big percentage of their revenue is produced."

Antoine Agassi, CIO for Cogent Healthcare and former director of Gov. Phil Bredesen's e-Health Council, listed many facets of the opportunity now facing Nashville, at one point singling-out Nashville's looming opportunity to ensure its "readiness" for implementation of new federal standards (e.g., "meaningful use"), and to thereby become a thought leader on the issue, at a time when thousands of companies and providers will be racing toward implementation, hoping to avoid federal penalties or gain market advantages. Agassi expressed strong concerns about the readiness of the national and state workforces to implement new healthcare technologies at the pace that is needed, given the inadequacy of training and education. That, too, he indicated, represents an opportunity for Nashville and for Tennessee.

LBMC Partner Tom Tarver responded with a substantial commentary, most of which is posted here. Tarver touches upon how firms like his are aligning with providers, physicians and financial institutions, and reaching out through webinars and other media, to capitalize on the new health IT epoch. He sees Nashville enjoying a substantial, leverageable software sector, but needing to ensure adequate workforce to cope with the minutae of the new healthcare technology environment. Tarver's previous experiences include management roles at HCA in IT related systems for OR, Nursing, and patient care; management for electronic data interchange for Nortel; and, president and CIO for Link2Gov.

Tennessee Technology Development Corporation President Eric Cromwell said TTDC is pushing entrepreneurship and innovation and noted that opportunities for Nashville include having major health IT customers (e.g., HCA) support competitions through which entrants would "develop working [technology] prototypes for introduction into the healthcare system." Cromwell said that if key local groups such as those noted in the accompanying article, plus Nashville Capital Network, could work with large companies frame competitive challenges and invite software-developers and innovative companies to compete for high-profile prizes for solving the "big problems in healthcare," he believes such efforts could win national and international attention, while enhancing Nashville's credibility in the sector. He likened the Nashville healthcare technology prize to the prizes offered by the X Prize Foundation.

Reached between meetings this morning, Cisco's Nashville-based Senior Director for North American Healthcare Frank Grant said that even though "we're doing a lot of good things" that should bring leadership status, he nonetheless suspects Nashville "could use a lot of help" in nurturing "healthcare software development," which would, in turn, knit-together the city's strong base in healthcare services management and healthcare information technology.

Echoing an important thread common among many industry execs interviewed for this piece, public-relations counselor Aileen Katcher told VNC, "A key challenge is clinician and staff adoption of the technology. In an industry where technology is readily embraced when it applies to diagnosis and treatment, adoption of the business applications has been one of the biggest obstacles. Helping to solve that is where Nashville can make a difference." Katcher Vaughn & Bailey Public Relations represents Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and Healthcare Management Systems, among other companies.

Vic Gatto, a partner in VC Solidus Co., stressed Nashville's opportunity to address healthcare transparency issues for both providers and consumers. Gatto noted that two of Solidus last three investments have been in healthcare technology: Change|Healthcare and OnFocus Healthcare.

Gary Zegiestowski, CEO of Vanderbilt University spinout Informatics Corporation of America, reaffirmed for VNC today that ICA's "heritage" from Vanderbilt, coupled with the federal push on funding Health IT, is creating many opportunities for ICA. Nonetheless, he said, "I don't know that the rest of the country is aware of the breadth and depth of how many organizations are coming from here," a fact well illustrated, he said, by the annual healthcare "family tree" publication of the Nashville Health Care Council. Zegiestowsky said that with his company now moving into early-stage growth, he plans to join the NHCC, this year. Meanwhile, as with others interviewed, he said he would like to see Nashville companies and institutions like Vanderbilt take the lead in "being a model to some degree" of how to marry clinical and management data and services, to achieve better outcomes and lower costs.

John Casillas, senior vice president of HIMSS based in Franklin, said Nashville can achieve "thought leadership" by leading discussion of "critical issues specifically tied to ARRA spend," including "meaningful use," best practices for implementation, consumer adoption, medical-banking issues, personal health records, and more. Casillas said, among other points, that industry and academe should collaborate to leverage Nashville players' expertise, to help the nation understand that the challenge is "not just technology implementation but the philosophy behind the implementation – how will it impact work-flow, organizational design, informatics issues... Along these lines, workforce training in health IT will become increasingly important and new certificate programs that meet this need will likely be required..."

Many respondents to VNC's query noted that Nashville industry is already moving on numerous fronts, and that continued entrepreneurship and innovation will inexorably extend Nashville's health IT reputation. Some of these players have been in stealth mode. For example, through an intermediary, America Service Group CEO Richard Hallworth (at right) said over the weekend that his firm has been "quietly, and one facility at a time" rolling-out an electronic medical record designed for use in correctional facilities and for public health, and dubbed "Catalyst."

Passport Health Communications Spokesman Dave Chaney said, in part, "It is practical for existing companies and for new companies to introduce software and services here where they can be implemented. Our advantage is that when new ideas and solutions are developed we can work alongside our neighbors down the street to put them into service on a national level..."

Near-ubiquitous Web developer, strategist and blogger Ed Dodds, with Conmergence, stressed Nashville should employ the Internet and other networks to extend its influence globally, given that the United States' comparative advantage is being eroded by long-term economic trends, as well as by the current recession.

Serial entrepreneur Jim Phillips, previously associated with IPIX Corp., Luminetx and other ventures, is now managing partner and CEO of Pinnacle Enterprises (PI Asset Holdings) in Memphis. Memphis-based Phillips was the founding chairman and executive director of the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis and is a member of both the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and the TTDC boards of directors. In a message Saturday, Phillips said, in part, "build on its brand as a premier epicenter in healthcare leadership – ('Healthcare innovation happens in Nashville'). The city already has a powerhouse brand as a leader in healthcare services, but awareness and traction seems somewhat limited to the financial hubs in the country that provide capital to large firms in the region (e.g. New York)." He continued, saying, "Opportunity is calling out to create an ad campaign that trumpets the amazingly broad scope of innovation fostered in Nashville and throughout Tennessee by turning loose the economic development professionals at the chamber and State to promote the image of 'all things healthcare'." Phillips added, "The greater the awareness of what is possible in Nashville with its abundance of experienced leaders and thought leaders who influence large procurements and national policies, the more attention Nashville and the State will receive from top healthcare firms, entrepreneurs, innovators and venture capitalists to invest resources in our region related to IT integrated healthcare!"

###

HCA, Others Win Local Technology Awards

October 28, 2009 | Getahn Ward | The Tennessean

Nashville, TN – Hospital chain HCA was named “Technology Organization of the Year” in an awards program that recognizes companies and individuals for success that has helped grow the Nashville area into a technology hub.

Others winning 2009 “Feel the Beat" Technology Awards from the Nashville Technology Council for achievements during the 2008-2009 year included:

• Startup Company of the Year — Justin Lanning’s CredenceHealth
• IT Student of the Year — Hank Carter of Belmont University
• Volunteer of the Year — Chris Beck of HP
• The “Green” Award — Nissan

• Innovator of the Year — Sal Novin of Linnaeus Inc.
• Social Media / Blogger of the Year — Rex Hammock of Hammock Publishing
• Lifetime Achievement — David Condra of Dalcon Communication Systems
• Software Programmer/Engineer of the Year — Chip Hayner of centre{source}
• CIO of the Year – Noel Williams of HCA

Visit the link to for more information on the awards and finalists.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200991028044&template=printart

###

Tech Council Announces Award Winners

October 27, 2009 | Erin Lawley | Nashville Post

Nashville, TN – The Nashville Technology Council announced the winners of its first “Feel the Beat” Technology Awards Tuesday night at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, recognizing individuals and companies who helped grow Nashville’s technology industry during the 2008-2009 year.

Here are the winners by category:

• Technology organization of the year: HCA
• Start-up company of the year: Justin Lanning, CredenceHealth
• IT student of the year: Hank Carter, Belmont University
• Volunteer of the year: Chris Beck, HP
• The “green” award: Nissan
• Innovator of the year: Sal Novin, Linnaeus
• Social media/blogger of the year: Rex Hammock, Hammock Publishing
• Lifetime achievement: David Condra, Dalcon
• Software programmer/engineer of the year: Chip Hayner, centresource
• CIO of the year: Noel Williams, HCA

Visit this link to see the pool of finalists for each category.

http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2009/10/27/tech_council_announces_award_winners

###

CredenceHealth: THA Vendor

October 6, 2009 | Venture Nashville

Nashville, TN – Brentwood-based CredenceHealth Inc. and Tennessee Hospital Association Solutions Group today announced the Solutions Group is endorsing CredenceHealth technologies that can improve medical outcomes, as well as hospitals' financial and operational performance. That's Credence Cofounder and CEO Justin Lanning, at left.

http://venturenashville.blogspot.com/2009/10/credencehealth-tha-vendor.html

###

Who Will Build the Next HCA? Healthcare Startups are a Nashville Tradition

May 17, 2009 | Getahn Ward | The Tennessean

Nashville, TN – Whether the economy is experiencing a downturn or robust growth, executives and others with experience in specific niches are constantly searching for that new way of cutting costs, bringing more efficiency to health care, or simply turning a profit.

A new generation of entrepreneurs is carrying forward the legacy of pioneer business leaders such as the late Jack Massey and Dr. Tommy Frist Sr., whose startup of the HCA hospital chain helped Nashville make its mark in health-care circles worldwide.

This latest batch of entrepreneurs is full of medical experts of various stripes with links to Healthways, the disease management and wellness firm in Nashville that's become known for breeding a culture that nurtures fresh ideas.

Here's a look at some of the new kids on the local block, each of whom is dabbling in health-care services ranging from e-medicine to helping consumers compare medical costs:

CredenceHealth: Startup works to cut costs, improve quality

For nurses and other staffs at hospitals, having quick access to lab results and other clinical information about patients is key to delivering quality care and preventing unnecessary complications.

Justin W. Lanning, chief executive of Brentwood-based CredenceHealth, hopes to capitalize on growing interests in quality with a system that gives hospital staff, including nurses, a snapshot of real-time clinical information about what's going on with a patient or all patients on a particular floor.

Lanning has seen far-reaching regulatory changes, including Medicare no longer paying hospitals for care related to complications that develop while someone is in the hospital. There also is a national drive to encourage more hospitals to install technologically advanced systems to better monitor patient care.

After a beta test, Nashville General Hospital at Meharry became the first hospital to use CredenceHealth's system six months ago. Whereas nurses on a floor previously went to different sections of patients' electronic medical records to view lab results and other reports, they now simply log on to CredenceHealth's computer application every two hours for a real-time snapshot.

"This allows us to quickly identify critical information, and with that information we can provide the proper, effective treatment," said Jason Boyd, chief operating officer at Nashville General.

"It helps us to improve our clinical quality, and that results in better care for the patient … which should result in reducing expenses for both the hospital and the patients." CredenceHealth is targeting hospitals nationally with its product, which includes real-time alerts when certain results arrive.

Lanning left Healthways, where he was value assurance leader, to launch CredenceHealth with cofounder Dr. Christopher R. Kuzniak, the company's chief medical officer.

They initially funded the company with their own money before recently raising $720,000 from angel investors, including Healthways Chairman Tom Cigarran.

"We're passionate about providing meaningful solutions that bring immediate value to our customers through clinical intelligence," Lanning said.

Health-care profiles were written by Getahn Ward. He can be reached at 615-726-5968 or gward@tennessean.com

###