Netsmart, Kindred Healthcare team up to create unique, technology-driven post-acute platform

Kindred Healthcare, LLC ("Kindred") and Netsmart today announced a partnership to create a unique, technology-driven clinical platform that surpasses the traditional boundaries of electronic medical records ("EMRs") and aligns with the needs of the evolving value-based care environment. Through this partnership, the companies expect to build and support integrated post-acute solutions, improve care outcomes and address gaps in patient care.

Kindred and Netsmart will combine teams from both organizations and utilize the Netsmart portfolio of enterprise solutions. Leveraging these solutions and Kindred's longstanding experience in long-term acute care ("LTAC") hospitals, rehabilitation and care management, the partnership will create a clinical platform that meets the distinct requirements of aging services and post-acute care. Together, Kindred and Netsmart expect to rapidly expand the functionality of Kindred's existing proprietary medical records solutions to address needs in information exchange and care coordination at Kindred's LTAC hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and Lacuna Health, a leading nationwide provider of registered nurse-led care engagement solutions. The combination of teams will begin immediately and expect to start deploying the solutions over the next several months.

"As a leader in the use of EMRs in LTAC hospitals, we recognize the need to adapt as the healthcare industry quickly moves to a value-based care model," said Benjamin A. Breier, Kindred's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Netsmart has a proven track record of innovation, experience connecting major acute care hospitals with post-acute services and a shared vision of future healthcare needs. Together, we will have more than 2,500 years of post-acute and software development experience and be well positioned to create a next generation, fully integrated post-acute platform."

Charlie Wardrip, Kindred's Chief Information Officer, said, "Kindred is committed to developing clinical, rehabilitation and care management innovations and solutions for the most medically-complex patients. As we combine the resources and expertise of our two organizations, our collaboration with Netsmart will strengthen our ability to provide coordinated, quality-driven patient care across the continuum. We look forward to working with Netsmart to capitalize on this unique opportunity."

"This partnership advances our objective of developing a clinical platform for providers that are integrated with post-acute care," said Netsmart CEO Mike Valentine. "These provider organizations require comprehensive platforms built to meet their unique needs, and we look forward to addressing that market opportunity by collaborating with Kindred. This partnership has the potential to advance the entire market and we couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to work with Kindred in this effort."