NextGen executes agreement with MKMG to deploy EHR solution

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: QSII) and leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, today announced it has executed an agreement with Mount Kisco Medical Group, PC (MKMG) to deploy NextGen® Ambulatory EHR (Electronic Health Record), NextGen® Practice Management, and the NextGen® Patient Portal.

“We determined that our previous EHR solution would not enable us to meet Meaningful Use criteria, so that factored heavily into our decision when selecting this new technology”

With more than 230 physicians representing nearly 40 different medical specialties, MKMG serves 250,000 patients annually through its 22 New York state locations. The organization was an early adopter of technology and has garnered a long-standing reputation for providing high quality care. Its providers generate 420,000 electronic prescriptions annually and began using electronic charts in February 1998. Through its agreement with NextGen Healthcare, MKMG will implement an integrated platform built on a single database to help better meet its financial and clinical needs, specifically as the organization works to demonstrate Meaningful Use.

"We determined that our previous EHR solution would not enable us to meet Meaningful Use criteria, so that factored heavily into our decision when selecting this new technology," said Joe Abate, director of information technology at MKMG. "Not only does NextGen Healthcare offer a proven EHR product that it intends to certify to help organizations like ours meet these criteria, but its practice management and portal technologies also provide the enhanced functionality needed to significantly impact financial efficiency - all through a single database."

"NextGen Healthcare's commitment to innovation, success in supporting clients' pay-for-performance initiatives, and its willingness to let our voice be heard during the selection process made them the right partner for us. We were also impressed by the camaraderie among large NextGen Healthcare clients and the opportunities to share best practices with other users," added Abate.

NextGen Ambulatory EHR version 5.6 is a CCHIT Certified® 2011 Ambulatory EHR, additionally certified for Child Health and Cardiovascular Medicine with Advanced Reporting. The product features pre-built clinical templates and workflow for more than 26 specialties to help ensure complete, accurate documentation stored in a standard format. Point and click technology enables physicians to mimic existing workflow to help eliminate the need for dictation. Disease management templates in NextGen Ambulatory EHR also allow organizations to capture discrete data at the point of care, which is crucial for meeting clinical reporting guidelines for pay-for-performance programs.

NextGen Practice Management offers reporting capabilities that can be leveraged to accurately track quality improvement measures - another key requirement for achieving Meaningful Use. The solution also enables large multi-specialty practices like MKMG to centralize appointment scheduling, billing, collections, and other business processes, while preference settings allow different locations to operate according to their own workflow.

NextGen Patient Portal promotes an interactive continuum of care between the patient and practice, facilitating effective electronic communication and clinical data exchange. The portal can be used to respond to patient requests for an electronic copy of health information, including diagnostic test results, problem lists, and medication lists and allergies. This level of patient interaction also helps organizations meet the Meaningful Use criteria for engaging patients and families in their healthcare.

"We are pleased to add a forward-thinking organization like Mount Kisco Medical Group to our client base and look forward to working closely together on the road to demonstrating Meaningful Use," said Scott Decker, President of NextGen Healthcare. "For years, NextGen Healthcare has been working diligently to build products that meet the emerging needs of our clients. We are confident that MKMG - as well as other NextGen users - will realize the benefits of this strategic product development approach as we enter this exciting time in healthcare IT."

For organizations seeking to take advantage of ARRA stimulus payments other opportunities made possible by healthcare reform, NextGen Healthcare has produced educational resources for providers and continues to host regular public webinars and demonstrations.

Source: NextGen Healthcare Information Systems