The Indian Well being Service has chosen Common Dynamics Data Know-how Inc. to construct, configure, and keep a brand new IHS enterprise digital well being document system utilizing Oracle Cerner expertise.

The IHS, an company within the U.S. Division of Well being & Human Providers, gives well being service for about 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 574 federally acknowledged tribes in 37 states.

The contract with Common Dynamics has a possible to achieve $2.5 billion over 10 years. Oracle Cerner’s expertise can be being utilized in modernization efforts on the Division of Protection and Division of Veterans Affairs. This yr, the VA has halted  deployments in its EHR Modernization effort whereas it prioritizes enhancements on the 5 websites that presently use the brand new EHR, as half of a bigger program reset.

The brand new IHS EHR will substitute the Useful resource and Affected person Administration System (RPMS), a 40-year-old system that handles all the pieces from affected person registration to insurance coverage billing. The objective of the up to date system is to modernize IHS’ healthcare supply and operations, making it simpler for sufferers and suppliers to entry up to date and correct info after they want it. 

“We’re prepared and keen to maneuver ahead with the enterprise EHR with our companions. It’s time to substitute our present system and be certain that IHS is holding tempo with technological advances throughout the well being care supply system,” stated IHS Chief Data Officer and Director for the Workplace of Data Know-how Mitchell Thornbrugh, in an announcement. “This Modernization – and the expertise that drives it – will impression each a part of our healthcare supply. Most significantly, the brand new EHR will allow sufferers and their suppliers to have up to date and correct info to make the perfect healthcare selections.”

This choice was made after a rigorous federal acquisition course of that was open to all distributors. All through the method, the IHS stated, it coordinated with tribal and concrete Indian group companions via in depth tribal engagement through tribal consultations, listening periods, city confers, advisory committee conferences, an Trade Day, and the participation of a whole bunch of tribal, city Indian, and IHS system customers in vendor product demonstrations.

“It is a main milestone in our work to ship high quality fashionable well being care to American Indians and Alaska Natives,” stated IHS Director Roselyn Tso, in an announcement. “With the brand new EHR system, sufferers can have higher entry to their very own well being info, suppliers can extra successfully coordinate affected person care out and in of our community, and we are able to higher monitor the well being of tribal communities general.”

A cross-disciplinary technical analysis panel evaluated the submitted proposals. The IHS stated it chosen Common Dynamics as a result of it had the strongest general technical method, demonstrated expertise deploying advanced info expertise programs for the federal authorities, and is providing a extremely succesful EHR product that was well-received by system customers taking part in scenario-based demonstration periods. Because the EHR system integrator, GDIT will handle numerous corporations on its staff and can be accountable to IHS for the general efficiency of the EHR alternative.

The IHS selected to make use of an Indefinite Supply, Indefinite Amount (IDIQ) contract construction for this requirement to assist the recurring wants anticipated within the enterprise EHR. Beneath the IDIQ contract construction, the IHS will challenge particular activity orders for technical assist and companies. This provides the IHS the flexibility to regulate what it purchases, incorporate classes discovered, person enter, and availability of recent expertise.