Cerner, Truman Medical Centers partner for HIT innovation

Cerner is teaming up with Truman Medical Centers (TMC) to pilot innovations using progressive health IT.

The two Kansas City-based organizations will expand their existing relationship to promote opportunities to create and research advancements in technology to enhance cutting-edge patient care, and will further support TMC’s mission to provide quality, safe and customer-focused care in both of its hospitals and its growing number of clinics throughout the area.

Doctors, nurses and medical staff will benefit from technology designed to make their jobs easier and give them an advantage in treating patients, according to an announcement.

“We are excited to work with Cerner on this initiative for our patients and staff,” said TMC president and CEO Charlie Shields. “The Cerner-TMC alignment will help our organizations learn from each other, innovate together and improve healthcare delivery for better health across the community and beyond.”

Since 1992, TMC and Cerner have worked together to implement clinical information systems. With solutions based on the unified Cerner Millennium EHR architecture, TMC has improved patient outcomes, lowered costs and advanced care for thousands of Kansas City residents by reducing adverse drug events, hospital-acquired pressure ulcers and central line-associated blood stream infections.

“Our enhanced relationship takes the concept of the learning health system and expands its boundaries beyond our region,” Shields said. “Ultimately, we have the potential to impact care around the world, as we learn and progress together in Kansas City and then share our expertise with other Cerner clients, healthcare organizations and communities.”

TMC will continue to benefit from Cerner’s solutions, while Cerner associates will benefit from the formalized and expanded healthcare experience program, which allows Cerner associates to work at Truman sites to experience firsthand how Cerner technology affects the healthcare environment.

The relationship will also align the TMC workforce to leverage the talent and resources of both organizations to help tackle the significant IT advancements of the next decade and beyond. TMC will benefit from improved access to staffing and training, greater flexibility of skills and resources, and the ability to expand its IT talent pool as needs change with regulatory demands.

“We couldn’t ask for a better partner than Truman,” said Cerner president Zane Burke. “We share a common vision of how to engage community members in their health and we’re excited to see how we can innovate together to improve health and care outcomes in our own community.”