BRIT Systems, Inc. and RelWare earlier this week announced a partnership agreement under whose terms the two companies will provide an integrated, Web-based EHR/RIS/PACS solution to hospitals, imaging clinics, and large group practices. Comprising BRIT’s RoentgenWorks PACS/RIS and RelWare’s ONC-Certified EXR EHR, the joint offering will allow users to purchase a solution that has been certified for Meaningful Use and takes advantage of existing departmental systems, while implementing and paying only for those modules they are required to employ. By enabling users to maintain existing systems, it will also minimize clinician training time.
The integrated EHR/RIS/PACS will make images seamlessly available enterprise-wide via BRIT’s browser-based and iPad application viewers, explains Shelly Fisher, president of BRIT Systems. She deems RelWare’s strategy for system development is similar to that followed by her company—“a Web-based, modular approach that enables facilities to implement only the tools they need to integrate medical imaging with patient records.”
Alicia Brown, president and CEO of RelWare, adds that within the hospital and clinic markets, many facilities mistakenly believe they are faced with acquiring new systems to replace existing, functioning applications to fulfill meaningful use. However, this is not the case, and an integrated system constitutes a means of fitting into a “one size fits all” mold.
BRIT and RelWare both have a long history as system integrators in their respective markets – BRIT in the small-to-medium sized hospitals, outpatient clinics and group practices, and RelWare in medium and large, progressive multi-hospital networks. The companies anticipate their combined expertise coupled with a flexible system design will help lower the cost of implementing an image–enabled EHR.
RoentgenWorks is BRIT Systems’ next-generation, 100% browser-based, scalable RIS/PACS, available on a pay-per-use basis or as a capital purchase. It includes a vendor-neutral PACS and archive (VNA), critical results (CTRM), and ER discordance reporting and remote reading applications. EXR, RelWare’s Enterprise EHR, is ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 compliant and is certified as a Complete Inpatient EHR and a Modular Ambulatory EHR in accordance with the applicable eligible provider certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The 2011/2012 criteria support the Stage 1 Meaningful Use measures. Both systems support HIE NHIN Gateways. Due to the similar architecture of RoentgenWorks and EXR, the companies currently plan to investigate other opportunities for combining their Web-based technologies.
