CoxHealth announces new alignment with Cerner to enhance delivery capabilities

News Release
Oct. 22, 2012

CoxHealth and Cerner have formed a strategic alignment, Si3 - The Star Initiative for Information Innovation – dedicated to transforming health information in our region, enhancing clinical processes and health care delivery capabilities, and positioning the health system for future growth and advancement.

Since 1997, CoxHealth and Cerner have partnered to implement clinical information systems, improve patient outcomes, and transform health care delivery through the use of the Cerner Millennium system. The new alignment will allow CoxHealth to rapidly advance its health care system, and deploy new capabilities to optimize resources, achieve efficiencies and cost savings. Cerner will assume operational and administrative responsibilities for the CoxHealth information technology environment via its Cerner ITWorksSM solutions and services, including remote hosting, monitoring and system performance capabilities. These capabilities will protect CoxHealth’s electronic health data, while ensuring high availability of systems.

“CoxHealth is excited to partner with Cerner on the Si3 strategic initiative for our community. Our collaboration will enable us to leap frog forward with advancement and innovation in our use of electronic health records (EHRs),” said Steven D. Edwards, president and CEO. “Through the Cerner alignment, CoxHealth will rapidly enhance its systems and processes to propel the organization’s capabilities for delivering value to patients.”

Clinician and patient benefits include:

• Improved quality of care through broader access to more complete cross-continuum health record information electronically;

• Integrated flow of data from medical devices directly into the electronic health record for contextual access to all clinical information;

• Increased efficiencies and streamlined workflows;

• Increased system speed, usability, and uptime, including increased first contact resolution with an enhanced help desk.

The strategic alignment positions CoxHealth for future growth within the region. With increased access to staffing and training, greater flexibility of skills and resources, and an Information Technology talent pool better poised to expand with the growing needs of the health system.

“Additionally, the effort will lay the foundation for CoxHealth to manage health care across the entire community. This will enable the community to proactively manage their health together with their care providers through electronic health records,” said Jake McWay, senior vice president and chief financial officer. “The alignment will emphasize a model of care that puts the patient at the center and ultimately builds efficiency, effectiveness and technological advancements of the CoxHealth system, while lowering the overall cost.”


Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: What is the Star Initiative for Information & Innovation (Si3)?

A: CoxHealth and Cerner have created a strategic alignment (Si3) to enhance the delivery of Health & Care through the innovative use of health care information and technology. Si3 will enable CoxHealth to advance the delivery of safe, secure and quality care using enriched clinical systems functionality, empower clinicians with the latest technological innovations and provide highly available health information systems to support optimal patient outcomes.

With the growing demands of health care, CoxHealth’s strategic direction is to continue to invest in key areas to stay ahead of the curve. The strategic alignment with Cerner will position CoxHealth for future growth within the community. It will increase access to staffing and training, drive greater flexibility of skills and resources, and position the talent pool to expand with the growing needs of CoxHealth.

Q: How will the Si3 partnership help improve health care for the community of Springfield and serve as a model for other communities?

A: The Si3 partnership will lay the foundation for CoxHealth to manage health care across the entire community, enabling the community to proactively manage their health together with their care providers through electronic health records. The alignment will emphasize a model of care that puts the patient at the center and ultimately builds efficiency, effectiveness and technological advancements of the CoxHealth operation.

The systems and support functions for clinicians and patients at CoxHealth will be a central focus, as we work to further “meaningful use” for federal government-mandated IT compliance requirements for electronic health records. At the same time, this alignment will optimize hospital, clinic and pharmacy workflows, patient scheduling and other operating efficiencies; and provide an improved digital infrastructure that connects all of the care system. With this new alignment, we commit to a significant improved delivery of IT systems.

Q: How will the partnership between CoxHealth and Cerner work?

A: With this partnership the Cerner and CoxHealth organizations become linked within Si3 utilizing tightly integrated strategies, goals and objectives. Si3 will bring members of the CoxHealth Information Technology staff to Cerner with the goal of providing the community enhanced health care IT delivery capabilities utilizing the best attributes that both CoxHealth and Cerner can provide.

Q: Will any jobs change with this arrangement?

A: Si3 will bring current members of the CoxHealth IT staff (143 employees) to Cerner, providing them with additional opportunities for career growth, training and advancement. We anticipate that Si3 will aid the local economy with increased job opportunities.

Q: How will the arrangement impact clinicians at CoxHealth?

A: Information technology continues to play an increasingly essential role in the practice of medicine. Si3 will promote innovation and optimization in clinical practice within the health system’s clinics, hospital, laboratories and diagnostic centers. This new alignment will advance the way health care is delivered with access to real-time information that enhances patient outcomes through evidence-based medicine, and creating efficiencies for health professionals by automating workflows.

Q: How will the CoxHealth – Cerner alignment benefit Skaggs?

A: CoxHealth’s partnership with Skaggs stipulates that the IT platforms will be integrated to maximize efficiencies and provide for the seamless delivery of health care. The CoxHealth-Cerner alignment will assist in this transition. The timeline for this transition has not been established, but will move at a reasonable pace that is appropriate for Skaggs.

About CoxHealth

CoxHealth is Springfield’s only locally owned, not-for-profit health system. It is accredited by The Joint Commission, distinguished as one of the nation’s Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Systems (2006-2012), and recognized as a U.S. News and World Report Best Regional Hospital. In FY 2011, CoxHealth provided more than $122 million in community benefit to serve the unmet needs of our friends and neighbors. Established in 1906, CoxHealth serves more than 900,000 people in a 25-county service area in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas, offering a comprehensive array of primary and specialty care including four hospitals and more than 65 clinics in 20 communities. The health system includes Oxford HealthCare (routinely the nation’s second largest hospital based home health agency), Home Parenteral Services (home infusion therapy), CoxHealth Foundation, Cox College, Cox HealthPlans and more.

CoxHealth Media Contact: Stacy Fender, Media Relations Coordinator, 417/269-4113, stacy.fender@coxhealth.com

About Cerner 

Cerner is contributing to the systemic change of health and care delivery. For more than 30 years Cerner has been executing its vision to make health care safer and more efficient. We started with the foundation of digitizing paper processes and now offer the most comprehensive array of information software, professional services, medical device integration, remote hosting and employer health and wellness services. Cerner systems are used by everyone from individual consumers, to single-doctor practices, hospitals, employers and entire countries. Taking what we’ve learned over more than three decades, Cerner is building on the knowledge that is in the system to support evidence-based clinical decisions, prevent medical errors and empower patients in their care.

Cerner® solutions are licensed by approximately 9,300 facilities around the world, including more than 2,650 hospitals; 3,750 physician practices covering more than 40,000 physicians; 500 ambulatory facilities, such as laboratories, ambulatory centers, cardiac facilities, radiology clinics and surgery centers; 800 home health facilities; 40 employer sites and 1,600 retail pharmacies.

Certain trademarks, service marks and logos (collectively, the “Marks”) set forth herein are owned by Cerner Corporation and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and certain other countries throughout the world. All other non-Cerner Marks are the property of their respective owners. Nasdaq: CERN. For more information about Cerner, please visit www.cerner.com, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Cerner Media Contact: Megan Moriarty, (816) 888-2470, megan.moriarty@cerner.com

Cerner Investors Contact: Allan Kells, (816) 201-2445, akells@cerner.com