Agreement further strengthens Company’s leadership position in provision of information technology (IT) solutions for tribal and behavioral health services
NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary ofQuality Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: QSII) and a leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, announced today an agreement with Gila River Health Care (GRHC) to deploy NextGen® Ambulatory EHR, NextGen® Practice Management and NextPen® throughout the organization. GRHC will use NextGen® solutions to improve organizational efficiencies and drive growth as it strives to comply with regulatory requirements mandated by healthcare reform. This agreement further strengthens NextGen Healthcare’s leadership position in the provision of information technology (IT) solutions for tribal and behavioral health services nationwide.
Sacaton, Ariz.-based GRHC, a not-for-profit corporation of the Gila River Indian Community, locally manages health care services administered by the federal Indian Health Services (IHS). GRHC is a self-governed tribal enterprise (638) health care system. Their hybrid approach to providing health care is highly effective, culturally advanced, and uniquely addresses the spiritual and health needs of the Gila River Indian Community, Ak-Chin Indian Community and Native Americans from other federally-recognized tribal communities.
Since receiving the Joint Commission Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) accreditation in 1976, GRHC has built a solid reputation for delivering meaningful service with a very strong commitment to comprehensive state-of-the-art medicine. GRHC’s vision is one of dynamic growth, service expansion and system-wide improvements as they continue to serve the health needs of Gila River Indian Community and Ak-Chin Indian Community as well as Native Americans from other federally-recognized tribes.
Today, GRHC employs a total of 1,200 people of which 27 percent are Gila River Indian Community members and is comprised of two main campuses along with vast Behavioral Health Services and a Residential Treatment Center. With more than 200 providers, the organization spans Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital, a 15-bed critical access hospital, the Ak-Chin Clinic located within the Ak-Chin Indian Community, and the Komatke Health Center. Additionally, GRHC provides various comprehensive primary health services as well as extensive behavioral health services and also features a state-of-the-art dialysis unit.
Under the agreement, GRHC will leverage NextGen® Ambulatory EHR and NextGen® Practice Management to create an integrated platform, built on a single database to address its specialty-specific needs. These solutions aid in streamlining processes, increasing practice efficiencies and assist in the delivery of outcome-based patient care. Utilizing NextGen® technology affords GRHC enhanced access to patient data and appointment scheduling, improved flexibility to handle high patient volumes, streamlined workflow and more comprehensive claims management capabilities.
GRHC selected NextGen Healthcare to replace an end-of-life software system after outgrowing the functionality and capabilities of its legacy system. Furthermore, GRHC will leverage NextGen solutions to transition its behavioral health services to electronic health records and will also look to NextGen to help the enterprise prepare for Meaningful Use Stage 2 and the transition to ICD-10.
“With portions of our organization still utilizing paper records and having outgrown the functionalities of our legacy solution, we recognized the pressing need to implement a fully integrated solution alongside a technology partner that could support both the tribal and behavioral health specialty-specific needs of our organization,” said Dr. Lorrie Henderson, Chief Executive Officer “With the support of NextGen Healthcare and its long-standing reputation in both the tribal and behavioral health communities, we believe Gila River is well-positioned for success in the new value-based care environment.”
“Behavioral healthcare is one of the most varied healthcare settings, encompassing a wide range of services from outpatient substance abuse treatment to full-time, residential care. As such, the shift to reimbursements and outcomes reporting is prompting tribal and behavioral health organizations to re-visit their operational strategies and healthcare IT partners to fortify their competiveness in the new value-based health care environment,” said Michael Lovett, executive vice president and general manager for NextGen Healthcare. “Partnering with organizations like Gila River not only reinforces the flexibility of our solutions portfolio, but also exemplifies the replacement opportunity we believe lies in the marketplace. As organizations like Gila River strive to update their systems to better reflect the demands of the current and continually evolving healthcare landscape, we are confident that our specialty-specific solutions can meet the needs of tribal and behavioral health providers nationwide.”
About Gila River Health Care (GRHC)
Located thirty-five miles south of Phoenix, Arizona, in the Community of Sacaton, Gila River Health Care is a not-for-profit corporation chartered under the auspices of the Gila River Indian Community Tribal government to serve American Indian communities. Today, the organization is comprised of Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital, a 15-bed critical access hospital designation located in Sacaton, Arizona. This facility provides a wide range of primary health care services to its populations including a state-of-the-art dialysis unit and comprehensive behavioral health services. The Ak-Chin Clinic is located within the Ak-Chin Indian Community to provide this population with primary health care services. The Komatke Health Center, located in Komatke, Arizona, opened in January of 2009 to replace the Gila Cross Clinic and to expand its services to the area. It provides a number of comprehensive primary health services, a state-of-the-art dialysis unit and extensive behavioral health services.
About NextGen Healthcare
NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc., provides integrated clinical, connectivity and financial solutions, including revenue cycle management services for ambulatory, inpatient and dental provider organizations. For more information, please visit www.nextgen.com and www.qsii.com. Follow NextGen Healthcare on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nextgen, Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NextGenHealthcare or LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/nextgen-healthcare-information-systems.
About Quality Systems Inc
Irvine, Calif.-based Quality Systems, Inc. and its NextGen Healthcare subsidiary develop and market computer-based practice management, electronic health records and revenue cycle management applications as well as connectivity products and services for medical and dental group practices and small hospitals. Visit www.qsii.com and www.nextgen.com for additional information.
Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including but not limited to those statements made by Michael Lovett related to the Company’s future products and offerings, and developments and trends in the healthcare industry. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the Company’s expectations and projections. Factors that could cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements include the possibility that products will not achieve or sustain market acceptance; the impact of incentive payments under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on sales and the ability of the Company to meet continued certification requirements; the development by competitors of new or superior technologies; the timing, cost and success or failure of new product and service introductions, development and product upgrade releases; undetected errors or bugs in our software; changing economic, political or regulatory influences in the healthcare industry; availability of third-party products and components; competitive pressures including product offerings, pricing and promotional activities; the Company’s ability or inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; possible regulation of the Company’s software by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and general economic conditions. Additional risks and uncertainties are set forth in the Company’s public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.
