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St. Luke's Health System Recognized for Innovative Use of Siemens Soarian Portal and Soarian Community Access Technology; Named Hospital of the Year By Microsoft Healthcare Users Group

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 February 2006, 12:01 CST

St. Luke's Health System of Boise, Idaho, has been named Microsoft Hospital of the Year by the Microsoft Healthcare Users Group (MS-HUG) and Microsoft Corp. A customer partner of Siemens Medical Solutions for more than three years, St. Luke's was honored for its use of the Web-based Soarian(R) Portal and Soarian Community Access to provide physicians with access to data remotely and enable secure communications between physicians. The MS-HUG awards, which recognize healthcare institutions and industry partners improving healthcare through the use of Microsoft technology, were presented yesterday at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference in San Diego.

As of December 2005, St. Luke's had rolled out Soarian Portal and Soarian Community Access to more than 1,300 users, including more than 350 physicians representing 100 practices, and 604 hospital users. Using Microsoft's Windows XP, Tablet PC edition and Pocket PC 2003, Pocket PC Mobile edition operating systems, St. Luke's is also extending portal access through mobile devices. Physicians are no longer tied to paper charts as their single source of information, which increases the availability of results and gives them anywhere, anytime access to patient data.

"We are very excited to be recognized for our use of this technology," said Sheryl Bell, director, information technologies, St. Luke's. "As a medical center, our focus is on providing access from the hospital to our physician community. We're accomplishing this by using the single sign on, remote access and secure communication features of Siemens' Soarian Portal and Soarian Community Access to streamline physician workflow, making it easier for physicians to work with us. In the coming year, we will expand the system's capabilities to allow consulting from anywhere in the world. The infrastructure is also in place to implement patient-to-physician communication. Patients will have the ability to compile and manage their personal health records online via a secure clinical repository."

"The reality is that healthcare today extends beyond one person, in one department, in one building," said Tom Miller, president, Healthcare Information Technology Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. "As a result, patients need more proactive, truly integrated care that considers their personal history and past encounters in the context of their current condition and needs, regardless of where they are physically located. St. Luke's is taking the steps that enable true collaboration among physicians, patients and other members of the care continuum - saving time, reducing costs and improving workflow."

"The potential for technology to drive transformation in the healthcare arena is being brought to life by work conducted by industry innovators like St. Luke's," said Steve Shihadeh, general manager, healthcare and life sciences, Microsoft. "Working with partners like Siemens, Microsoft is leading a vision for a more connected healthcare system that empowers individuals and organizations to effect measurable improvements in the quality of patient care."

Sponsored by MS-HUG, a membership community of HIMSS, the MS-HUG awards are presented annually in recognition of the breakthrough contributions being made by organizations and individuals to drive efficiencies across the healthcare system - ultimately containing costs and improving the quality of patient care.

St. Luke's Health System is Idaho's largest healthcare provider, with three full-service hospitals in Boise, Meridian and Sun Valley; 25 outpatient facilities; 600 physicians; and 4,200 total employees. St. Luke's treats more than 325,000 patients per year from Idaho and six adjoining states. A leader in the Idaho and Southwest Idaho Community Network, St. Luke's has a partner relationship with nine rural hospitals and a management agreement with four.

Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) with headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and Erlangen, Germany, is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry in the world. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. Employing approximately 31,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 120 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 7.6 billion EUR, orders of 8.6 billion EUR and group profit of 976 million EUR for fiscal 2005. More information can be obtained by visiting www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.

Source: Business Wire

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