Largest Health Information Network In Nation Planned For Californians; System will link physicians, hospitals, health plans, pharmacies and labs in statewide network; administrative cost-savings projected to be $2-3 billion.LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 1995--Los Angeles-based Healthcare Data Information Corporation (HDIC HDIC Hockey Day In Canada HDIC High Density Integrated Circuit ), a non-profit consortium representing 34 of the biggest health care names in California, announced today that it has signed a contract with Pacific Bell to create the largest health information network in the U.S. The network initially will be available to 12 million Californians -- more than half of all Californians that are covered by health insurance. Based on a feasibility study "A Feasibility Study" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 13 April, 1964, during the first season. It was remade in 1997 as part of the revived The Outer Limits series with a minor title change. conducted by Deloitte & Touche Management Consulting Noun 1. management consulting - a service industry that provides advice to those in charge of running a business service industry - an industry that provides services rather than tangible objects , the network is projected to shave $2-3 billion annually from the state's health care costs by reducing administrative expenses. In a joint announcement, the organizations described a two-phased approach that will link California hospitals, insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, provider associations, employer coalitions and governmental entities. When Phase I is implemented this August, the network will offer administrative and financial features, such as insurance verification, claims status and electronic payment. Phase II will provide clinical applications and information services See Information Systems. , enabling physicians to order lab tests and results, submit prescriptions, consult electronically and access medical information databases. "This network is an example of how California's technological expertise can contribute to our state's rapidly improving economic climate," said California Gov. Pete Wilson For others named Pete Wilson, see . Peter Barton Wilson (born August 23, 1933) is an American Republican politician from California. Wilson served as the thirty-sixth Governor of California (1991–1999), the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that . "Lower health care costs make our state more appealing to companies looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. ways to reduce their operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. and encourage companies to continue doing business in California." "This network will help eliminate the mountains of paperwork and red tape that can bog down bog down Verb [bogging, bogged] to impede physically or mentally Verb 1. bog down - get stuck while doing something; "She bogged down many times while she wrote her dissertation" bog our health care system," said Rita Moya, chief executive officer and president of HDIC. "It's going to be easier for patients to obtain claims information and insurance authorization. When Phase II is in place, physicians will have quicker access to accurate, timely medical information about their patients, enabling them to make better informed decisions -- which ultimately enhances the quality of care." The network technology will be developed by Pacific Bell, in partnership with National Electronic Information Corp. "The decision by HDIC to award the contract to Pacific Bell represents a tremendous opportunity for us," said Gwen Edwards, vice president, Pacific Bell Health Care Market Group. "We're excited to be a part of a project that stands to improve health care delivery and, at the same time, reduce costs. With administrative expenses currently accounting for 24 cents of each health care dollar, this network could prove to be a landmark in the evolution of the industry." The network will capitalize on Pacific Bell's $16-billion commitment to its advanced communications network, providing wireline and wireless services, broadened access to data and information, and interactive voice, video and multimedia services. The architecture features several advanced communications technologies, including ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. (Integrated Services Digital Network Integrated services digital network (ISDN) A generic term referring to the integration of communications services transported over digital facilities such as wire pairs, coaxial cables, optical fibers, microwave radio, and satellites. ), Frame Relay, SMDS (Switched Multimegabit Data Service) A high-speed, switched data communications service offered by the local telephone companies for interconnecting LANs in different locations. It was introduced in 1992 and became generally available nationwide by 1995. (Switched Multimegabit Data Service See SMDS. (networking) Switched Multimegabit Data Service - (SMDS) An emerging high-speed datagram-based public data network service developed by Bellcore and expected to be widely used by telephone companies as the basis for their data networks. ) and ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode See ATM. (communications) Asynchronous Transfer Mode - (ATM, or "fast packet") A method for the dynamic allocation of bandwidth using a fixed-size packet (called a cell). See also ATM Forum, Wideband ATM. ATM acronyms. Indiana acronyms. ). "This network is essentially the information highway of health care in California," said Edwards. "Physicians will find this network to be a critical and indispensable part of caring for patients," said Dr. Terry Fotre, chairman, Medical Informatics medical informatics, n the field of information science concerned with the analysis and dissemination of medical data through the application of computers to various aspects of health care and medicine. , American College of Emergency Physicians The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the largest organization of emergency physicians in the United States. It was founded in 1968 and is now headquartered in Dallas,Texas. , California chapter. "This is particularly true for emergency departments and trauma centers where doctors are often handicapped by long delays in obtaining life-saving patient information." The Healthcare Data Information Corporation was created in 1993 by the National Health Foundation (NHF NHF Norges Handikapforbund NHF National Headache Foundation NHF National Hemophilia Foundation NHF National Housing Federation (UK) NHF Nordisk Herpetologisk Forening NHF National Hairdressers' Federation (UK) ), as part of its mission to enhance the effective delivery of health care. The NHF is a non-profit charitable organization affiliated with the Healthcare Association of California. Also a non-profit organization, HDIC was formed to give its member organizations greater access to health care data. The vision of HDIC is to make Californians healthier by facilitating the development of a secure, standards-based, open, statewide health care data interchange. HDIC is open to any provider, payer, purchaser or government entity. Pacific Bell is a subsidiary of Pacific Telesis Group, a diversified communications corporation based in San Francisco. -0-
HEALTHCARE DATA INFORMATION CORPORATION (HDIC)
MEMBERS
Aetna Health Plans Kaiser Permanente- American College of Emergency Northern & Southern Physicians/California Chapter California Blue Cross of California Lifeguard Blue Shield of California Little Company of Mary California Association of Hospitals Health Svcs & Health Systems Los Angeles County California Health Information Department of Health Association Services California Medical Association PacificCare Health Systems California Medical Review, Inc. Pacific Business Group on CareAmerica Health Catholic Healthcare West Prudential Insurance Cedars-Sinai Health System St. Joseph Health System Community Clinic Association San Bernardino Co. Medical of Los Angeles County Center Daughters of Charity Scripps/HealthFirst FHP, Inc. Network Foundation Health Unified Medical Group HealthNet Association Healthcare Association of UC-Irvine Medical Center Southern California IniHealth Hospital Council of Northern & VHA Pacific Central California William M. Mercer, Inc. Non-member participants include California Department of Health Services and Health Care Financing Administration - Region IX. CONTACT: Pacific Bell Tim Blair, 310/470-4569 Rebecca Weill, 415/542-4640 |
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