CHARLOTTE, NC – The Premier healthcare alliance will offer its 2,200 hospital members mobile healthcare information technology to boost obstetrical care.

Premier’s purchasing partners division is the first group purchasing organization to offer AirStripOB, developed by AirStrip Technologies of San Antonio, Texas. The technology provides obstetricians and nurses with real-time, remote access to fetal and maternal waveform data such as fetal heart rate and maternal contractions.

The information can be accessed on mobile devices using cell phone connections, such as a BlackBerry, iPhone and a variety of Windows Mobile smart phones. The solution also provides hospital staff with the latest nursing notes, vital signs, order results and a host of other critical data from the hospital labor and delivery unit.

“In my opinion, this is an absolute must for obstetricians.” said Lynn Simpson, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic. “If you can spend your whole day in labor and delivery, you may not need this program, but if you are like the rest of us, you cannot defend not having the ability to monitor fetal strips anywhere, anytime.

AirStrip OB is being used at more than 100 hospitals across the country.

“A number of Premier alliance member hospitals are successfully using the technology already,” said Mike Alkire, president of Premier Purchasing Partners.

“This relationship with AirStrip will ensure that more healthcare providers will be able to experience the benefits the technology provides.”

“AirStrip OB saves healthcare providers valuable time by reducing the amount of extra trips to and from the labor and delivery unit,” said Kathy Connolly, RN, principal of women’s services for Premier Consulting Solutions.