Emergis Now Managing Ontario’s Health Network System
Emergis Inc., a TELUS company, today announced that it has successfully completed the migration of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s (MOHLTC) Health Network System to its data facilities in Thornhill, Ontario. Under a five-year, multi-million dollar agreement signed a year ago, Emergis is responsible for the management and further development of the system, and is now processing drug claims submitted by Ontario pharmacists, on behalf of clients under the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program.
“Taking over the processing of ODB claims represents another milestone in our strategy to be an important contributor in the electronic transformation of the Canadian health care system,” said Marc Filion, Executive Vice-President, Health Claims Management at Emergis. “The seamless transfer of the system to our data centre was accomplished with careful planning and coordination with members of the Ministry. We view our joint success and the level of collaboration achieved as a very strong start to our relationship with the ministry.”
An essential element of the management of this large online adjudication system on behalf of the Ontario government is the protection of ODB program recipients’ personal data. This included the complex physical transfer of the system to Emergis’ state-of-the-art data centre. The transfer was accomplished in phases by Emergis operations and security specialists and coordinated with MOHLTC officials, government auditors and the Ontario Provincial Police. Emergis is providing the MOHLTC with its Assure Managed Services for 24/7 security monitoring and testing of the system. Emergis also provides support personnel that are dedicated to the system and, as requested by the MOHLTC, will enhance it to meet the evolving needs of the ODB program.
The ODB Program, which provides coverage for over 3,200 drugs to eligible Ontarians, is one of Ontario’s publicly-funded drug programs offered under Ontario Public Drug Programs.
About Emergis
Emergis, a TELUS company, is an IT leader in Canada that focuses on the health and financial services sectors. It develops and manages solutions that automate transactions and the secure exchange of information to increase the process efficiency and quality of service of its customers. Emergis has expertise in electronic health-related claims processing, health record systems, pharmacy management solutions, cash management and loan document processing and registration. In Canada, Emergis delivers solutions to major insurance companies, top financial institutions, government agencies, hospitals, large corporations, real estate lawyers and notaries and 3,100 pharmacies. Its electronic health record solutions are also delivered in the U.S. and Australia.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX:T, T.A; NYSE:TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $9.0 billion of annual revenue and 11.0 million customer connections including 5.4 million wireless subscribers, 4.4 million wireline network access lines and 1.2 million Internet subscribers. TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video. Committed to being Canada’s premier corporate citizen, we give where we live. Since 2000, TELUS and our team members have contributed more than $91 million to charitable and non-profit organizations and volunteered more than 1.7 million hours of service to local communities. Eight TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead our local philanthropic initiatives. For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.
Forward-looking statements
This document contains statements about expected future events and financial and operating results of TELUS Corporation (“TELUS” or the “Company”) that are forward-looking. By their nature, forward-looking statements require the Company to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is significant risk that the assumptions (see key assumptions listed above), predictions and other forward-looking statements will not prove to be accurate. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from the targets, guidance, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include but are not limited to: competition (including more active price competition); economic growth and fluctuations; capital expenditure levels; financing and debt requirements; tax matters; human resource developments; integration of the announced acquisition of Emergis, and other business integrations and internal reorganizations; technology; regulatory approvals; regulatory developments (including the essential services proceeding, spectrum auction, tower sharing and roaming rules, and new media proceeding); process risks (including conversion of legacy systems and billing system integrations); health, safety and environmental developments; litigation and legal matters; business continuity events (including man-made and natural threats); any prospective acquisitions or divestitures; and other risk factors discussed herein and listed from time to time in TELUS’ reports, comprehensive public disclosure documents including the 2006 Annual Report, 2007 quarterly reports and in other filings with securities commissions in Canada (filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com) and the United States (filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov).
For further information, see Section 10: Risks and risk management in TELUS’ annual 2006 Management discussion and analysis, as well as updates reported in section 10 of TELUS’ 2007 first, second and third quarter Management’s discussion and analyses.
Contacts: Emergis John Gutpell 450-928-6856
SOURCE: EMERGIS INC.