Baylor Health Care System and Healtheon Team to Deploy Integrated Communications Networks.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 23, 1998--Baylor Health Care System, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit integrated health care providers, and Healtheon Corporation, the leading provider of advanced Internet-based solutions for the healthcare industry, have entered into an agreement to deploy a medical Intranet connecting physicians, physician offices and other health care providers throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

The new network will provide a secure, comprehensive, and single source for clinical, administrative, and managed care information and transactions.

"This network set of services will assist physicians in delivering personalized patient care at the right time, in the right place, while improving effectiveness and productivity," said Peter Dysert, II, M.D., chief medical information officer at Baylor Health Care System.

Baylor Health Care System's senior vice president and chief information officer, Robert J. Pickton added, "Physicians as well as other caregivers and hospital employees will benefit from using the network by accessing patient information, treatment protocols, medical databases, insurance information, lab results and other information from a single screen."

The network will feature Baylor Health Care System content and information deployed using Healtheon's open Internet architecture, which provides access to third party software, as well as Healtheon applications and services using standard browsers. The service will be interactive and transactional with interfaces to inpatient legacy systems, as well as outpatient clinical providers, thereby exceeding common Web page functionality.

Mike Long, Healtheon's chief executive officer, described the deployment of services to Baylor as a major partnership in the critical area of provider connectivity.

"Healtheon's physician-led healthcare consulting group working with industry leaders like Baylor has extensively analyzed the needs of physicians and physicians offices. We have combined the results of this in-depth research with the finest Internet engineering talent available to develop our provider portal services," said Long. "The strong executive, physician, and information technology leadership at Baylor provides an ideal environment for the deployment of these services at the desktop."

Users across the health care system will be provided with the roles-based, personalized views of data and information using a browser and a personal computer. Secure and encrypted provider-to-provider messaging also will be featured. The network will be in full compliance with HIPAA regulations including security, audit and access controls.

The network is scheduled for initial deployment in early 1999, with functionality and participation anticipated to expand throughout the year. Baylor Health Care System will invite other health care providers in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex to participate. The network, once deployed, will also be enhanced to include consumer and patient services.

About Baylor Health Care System

Baylor Health Care System encompasses a network of hospitals, primary care center and practices, community health centers and senior health centers. In addition, Baylor Health Care System provides cohesive and coordinated research efforts and pursues research opportunities through the Baylor Research Institute. Baylor University Medical Center, a major patient care, teaching and research center for the Southwest and the second largest medical center in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, serves as Baylor Health Care System's flagship hospital. Founded in 1981, Baylor Health Care System owns, leases, and affiliates with facilities in 19 cities throughout North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. Baylor Health Care System's Internet address is www.bhcs.com.

About Healtheon

Healtheon develops and manages virtual health care networks that enable seamless information exchange and mission-critical transaction processing among key participants in the health care industry, including physicians, consumer, employers, health plans, hospitals, pharmacies and laboratories.

Healtheon was established in 1996 by Jim Clark, founder of Netscape Communications and Silicon Graphics, Inc. Healtheon can be reached at 888/718-7128 or at www.healtheon.com.