Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Cerner partner to elevate care of individuals with addiction disorders

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the nation's largest nonprofit addiction treatment solutions provider, announced today it has selected leading health IT supplier Cerner Corp. to implement a new electronic health record (EHR) system throughout its organization.

The collaboration agreement between Cerner and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has the potential to elevate the care of individuals suffering with addiction disorders by integrating tools with clinical workflows to help drive better health care for underserved populations.

"Addiction is a chronic disease that, if left untreated, costs the United States economy billions of dollars each year in health care costs and lost productivity," said Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation President and CEO Mark Mishek. "Partnering with an enormously well-respected technology provider like Cerner, which shares our vision for bringing behavioral health solutions into the care continuum, will enable us to reach more people and be a greater force for help and healing."

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and Cerner will collaborate towards a supplement to Cerner's behavioral health offering with a recovery management program called My Ongoing Recovery Experience (MORE). The structured program will be delivered through a patient portal coupled with recovery coach engagement to encourage the participants to continue learning and engaging in their recovery as they re-enter the community.

A report by CASAColumbia claims that 40 million Americans ages 12 and older, or more than one in seven people, have addiction disorders involving nicotine, alcohol or other drugs.

"Addiction imposes an enormous financial toll on individuals, businesses and our country," said Cerner President Zane Burke. "By collaborating with a world-class addiction-treatment organization like Hazelden Betty Ford, we look forward to enhancing our solution and helping people better manage chronic illnesses."

The National Drug Intelligence Center estimates the total cost of substance abuse in the U.S., including productivity and health- and crime-related costs, exceeds $600 billion annually.

"Untreated individuals with addiction or alcoholism incur health care costs nearly double those of the rest of the population," said Mishek. "These innovative tools will enable patients to better manage their addiction, and lower health care costs in the long run."

SOURCE Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation