Kaiser Permanente Northern California says it now has all 21 hospitals and 160 clinics and medical offices up and running with a fully functioning electronic health record (EHR) system. This ends implementation of a decade-long effort that cost $4 billion. Kaiser claims that its HealthConnect EHR is currently the world’s largest private sector EHR system. It connects more than 8.6 million patients with Kaiser’s providers.
MORE ON: Kaiser
For pathologists and clinical lab administrators tracking how consumers accept and use EHRs, Kaiser released some interesting statistics. It says that more than three million beneficiaries actively use MyHealthManager, designed as a patient-friendly access to the EHR. MyHealthManage allows Internet access so that patients can view their health records, see prescription information, access laboratory test results, e-mail physicians, and view information about upcoming appointments.
BIO-REFERENCE GROWS 27% IN ITS SECOND QUARTER
Among all the national laboratory companies, the longest string of double-digit revenue growth quarters is held by Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. (BRLI), of Elmwood Park, New Jersey. Last week the company extended that record by one more quarter. BRLI released its earnings for its second quarter, ending April 30. Net revenue was a record $110.5 million, compared to $87.2 million in Q2-2009. It reported revenue per requisition of $80.00, which represented a 4% increase over the same quarter last year.
TRANSITIONS
- Valerie Palmieri was named President of DiagnoCure Oncology Laboratories, a U.S. subsidiary of DiagnoCure, Inc. which has its headquarters in Quebec City, Quebec. Palmieri formerly held executive positions with Dianon Systems, Inc., and Laboratory Corporation of America.
- E. Blair Holladay, Ph.D., SCT(ASCP), will be the new Executive Vice President for the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Blair will succeed John R. Ball, M.D., J.D., who is retiring at the end of the year after serving for eight years in the ASCP’s highest staff leadership role. Holladay joined the ASCP in 2005 and currently handles multiple responsibilities.
Dark Daily Update
Have you caught the latest e-briefings from DARK Daily? If so, then you’d know about…
…social networking is being used by first-mover pathologists, clinical labs, and IVD firms as a new, two-way communications channel with customers on Web sites like MySpace.com, Facebook.com, and Youtube.com.
You can get the free DARK Daily e-briefings by signing up at www.darkdaily.com.
