McKesson inks $30 million contract to automate healthcare delivery

McKesson Corp. has been awarded a seven-year, $30 million contract with Bloomington Hospital and Healthcare System (BHHS), an integrated delivery network serving nine counties in South Central Indiana, to implement a wide range of healthcare IT systems, including an electronic health record (EHR), McKesson's STAR 2000 healthcare information system and the Horizon Clinicals suite.

The first phase of BHHS' EHR deployment includes McKesson's systems for revenue cycle management, scheduling and radiology as well as tools that enable nurses and other caregivers to electronically document patient care. BHHS also will implement the Horizon Physician Portal, which gives clinicians secure, remote access patient data, McKesson said.

During its second phase of EHR deployment, BHHS will implement a medical imaging system, financial and materials management systems as well as an emergency department (ED) system that will decrease patient waiting times and alert medical staff when patients' test results are ready.

BHHS said its long-term plans call for implementation of medication safety tools such as automated medication dispensing cabinets and bar-code scanning at the bedside. BHHS also will implement McKesson's clinical decision support/physician order entry system as well as a web-based portal for patients so they can be more active in managing their health.

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