Medical and Practice Management by LSS Data Systems Helps Ephraim McDowell Health Connect Physician Practices and Hospitals

Danville, KY – April 27, 2010 – Ephraim McDowell Health (Danville, KY) recently launched an integrated ambulatory Electronic Health Record from LSS Data Systems (Minneapolis, MN) that connects Ephraim McDowell Health clinics with their hospitals (Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center and Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital).

Earlier this month, three of the organization's affiliated clinics – Immediate Care at Stanford Medical Park, North Garrard Family Medical Center and Ephraim McDowell Lancaster – began using Medical and Practice Management (MPM) by LSS Data Systems. The system securely shares data with their MEDITECH hospital software, producing one medical record for each patient across the entire organization.

Physicians in the organization's clinics will have secure access to medical information collected for their patients in the hospital, the emergency department and other locations across their enterprise. The ambulatory EHR software runs on the same platform and seamlessly shares data with the hospital software, enabling a single list of medical problems, allergies and medications, among other important health data.

"The benefits will be significant in terms of the quality of care, patient safety and the cost of providing care," says Vicki A. Darnell, President and Chief Executive Officer at Ephraim McDowell Health. "One example is adverse drug interactions and drug allergies, which are automatically checked by the system when physicians place orders. Physicians won't just see medications they have prescribed, but those ordered in the hospital and other facilities as well. They also will receive immediate notification of laboratory and radiology results, and they can electronically order tests, prescriptions, referrals and follow-up appointments."

Staff at LSS Data Systems have been impressed by the organization's progress. The three pilot clinics are using nearly all of the software's functionality, including documentation (using Zynx Health Ambulatory documentation templates), scanning & importing, ordering, and e-prescribing, as well as Health Maintenance/Disease Management clinical decision support alerts and reminders.

"Three pilot clinics going live at once is an accomplishment," says Stacey Payne, LSS Senior Applications Specialist and the site's implementation specialist. "Three clinics going live with so much functionality is even more impressive."

Jay Dering, LSS Director of Client Services, agrees. "All of the staff who have worked with the organization have been impressed by how proactive they've been with their implementation of the software. They're really focused on the end goal, doing a thorough job testing, preparing and getting their providers the training they need to effectively use the system."

Ephraim McDowell Health plans to roll out the software to their eight remaining clinics over the next several months, with the goal of connecting all affiliated physicians practices to their enterprise EHR by fall.

About Ephraim McDowell Health
Ephraim McDowell Health is an integrated healthcare delivery system that serves more than 113,000 residents from six counties in central Kentucky. At the core of the system is Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, a 222-bed, not-for-profit hospital that was established more than 120 years ago. The Ephraim McDowell Health system also includes Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital in neighboring Lincoln County (Stanford). Other entities within the Ephraim McDowell Health system are eight family medical and immediate care centers, the Central Kentucky Surgery Center, Ephraim McDowell Diagnostic Center, McDowell Wellness Center, McDowell Place of Danville (an assisted living facility), a Sleep Disorders Center, a Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, a Wound Healing Center, a Pain Management Center, an OrthoSpineCenter, vascular and spine physical therapy services, MedSource (durable medical equipment stores in Danville and Stanford) and A Children's Place, an early learning center and child care facility.

About LSS Data Systems
LSS Data Systems, a MEDITECH company founded in 1982, develops clinical, financial and administrative solutions for medical practice groups, healthcare delivery systems and clinics across the United States and internationally. LSS provides a full-featured ambulatory care solution, Medical and Practice Management (MPM), for ambulatory health care organizations utilizing MEDITECH. MPM includes an ambulatory Electronic Health Record with prescribing/ordering, physician documentation, scanning, scheduling, and billing and financial management tools. For more information please visit www.lssdata.com.