Lab information systems

Infoway reaches pricing agreement with MedPlus

TORONTO – Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) today announced it has negotiated preferential conditions and pricing with MedPlus, Inc. through a national Preferred Solution Agreement for Laboratory Information Systems.

MedPlus is the healthcare information technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics Inc., a large, US-based medical lab corporation. This Canada-wide agreement will help accelerate the implementation of laboratory information systems, which automate the flow of laboratory requisitions and results.

“Laboratory test results are vital because they provide healthcare professionals with the information they need to support decision-making and case management at the point of care,” said Richard Alvarez (pictured), President and CEO of Canada Health Infoway. “Yet for every 1,000 lab tests performed, up to 150 are wasteful duplicates when results are tracked on pieces of paper that can be misplaced.”

Infoway is a federally funded, independent not-for-profit organization that invests with public sector partners to accelerate electronic health records across Canada.

“Implementation of electronic access to laboratory information will help reduce unnecessary duplicate tests and help speed diagnosis, resulting in quicker access to appropriate care,” said Alvarez.

“MedPlus is delighted to be Infoway’s first laboratory information system Preferred Solution Provider. With over 120,000 physicians currently using the Care360 system, we are confident that Canadian healthcare providers will be pleased with the features and functionality of our user-friendly solution,” said Richard Mahoney, President of MedPlus and Vice-president of Healthcare Information Solutions at Quest Diagnostics.

Laboratory information systems automate information flow, which allows authorized healthcare professionals – such as doctors and nurses – to spend less time tracking results manually and more time providing patient care. They also provide a secure, electronic view of a patient’s test results regardless of where the original test was completed.

Through preferred solution agreements with participating vendors such as MedPlus, the Canadian healthcare system benefits from leveraging experts with a deep understanding of the pan-Canadian EHR and the country’s need to adopt established standards to ensure interoperability.

About MedPlus
MedPlus (www.medplus.com) is the healthcare information technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics and a leading developer and integrator of clinical connectivity and healthcare information exchange solutions.

About Canada Health Infoway
Infoway is leading the development and implementation of electronic health projects across Canada. Infoway works with provinces and territories to invest in electronic health projects, which support safer, more efficient healthcare delivery. Fully respecting patient confidentiality, these private and secure systems provide healthcare professionals with immediate access to complete and accurate patient information, enabling better decisions about diagnosis and treatment. The result is a sustainable healthcare system offering improved quality, accessibility, productivity and cost savings.