LENEXA, KS – Mediware Information Systems, Inc. announced it is expanding the integration between Mediware's HCLL blood transfusion management software and Epic Systems' Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software for acute care hospitals. Mediware's efforts are being driven by an organized focus group of more than 40 Mediware customers who also use Epic's EMR. Mediware is analyzing this group's first hand experience to identify additional areas of data and functional integration to further increase efficiency and improve patient safety.

"We're pleased that we share so many customers with the market's leading EMR solution and that we can help make these technologies even more valuable to our combined customers," said Thomas Mann, Mediware's president and chief executive officer. "These are sophisticated organizations that understand the benefits of having the best technology available. Their expertise is helping us to identify areas where we can improve interoperability, making relevant patient data more accessible between HCLL and the Epic EMR. Ultimately our goal is to help customers directly impact clinician efficiency and improve patient safety." 

As a major component of healthcare improvement initiatives, the EMR provides hospitals a single system to store and access patient care records. Patient data from ancillary department systems, such as laboratory, pharmacy and blood bank, are typically transferred to the EMR. By increasing the interoperability between Mediware's HCLL and the Epic EMR, Mediware customers will have improved bi-lateral data sharing, enabling HCLL customers in the blood bank to include additional patient information via the Epic software system in their analysis of particular therapies.

"Information sent from HCLL will allow nurses to use the EMR to computer authenticate blood products before starting a transfusion. Conversely, information sent from the EMR gives laboratories a better picture of their available blood inventory and will help reduce blood wastage," said Dr. Mick Scanlan, Director of Transfusion Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University, a 560-bed medical facility, in Portland, Oregon. "Ultimately, I predict that improved information sharing will result in safer, less costly transfusions."

Several of the processes identified by the Epic Focus Group include:

• Expanding access to specimen information such as availability and expiration date;
• Integration with electronic orders, including special orders and treatments relating specific patient needs; and
• Capturing and passing on transfusion reaction information, including patient vitals and clinical symptoms.

As a best of breed solutions provider with over 1500 customer facilities, Mediware has vast experience integrating with hospital information systems from nearly every major vendor. The efforts surrounding the Epic EMR, which includes prestigious academic medical centers and multi-hospital networks, expands past programs by involving customers directly in the research and development processes with monthly conference calls. Mediware's Epic focus group will meet face to face at Mediware's annual customer conference, held October 14, 2010 following the AABB conference in Baltimore. For more information, visit www.mediware.com.