For more information about Forward Advantage's medical device integration initiative click here -Medical Device Integration Release

Fall 2008 Join us for the upcoming MUSE Regional Conferences beginning September 2008!

Improve Patient Care

Enable your clinical staff to focus on better patient care by automating your bedside clinical data collection. Medical Device Integration (MDI) can streamline your clinicians’ workflow to allow faster access to patient vital information in your MEDITECH HCIS and support your patient safety initiatives by reducing the potential for medical errors that can occur when data is entered manually.

Access the Largest Device Interface Library

The MDI solution includes drivers for more than 150 MEDITECH supported medical devices from every major manufacturer including monitors, ventilators, infusion pumps and anesthesia machines. New device interfaces are continuously added to support new versions, models and manufacturers.

Experience Proven Reliability and Performance

The MDI solution has been developed in conjunction with MEDITECH as an integrated solution using standard supported interfaces for long term reliability and performance. Supported by Forward Advantage’s acclaimed 24/7 customer support department, you’ll never be without assistance every step of the way.

For more information about Medical Device Integration, click here for a Product Sheet PDF or please contact us at 877-636-7927.

Forward Advantage Successfully Completes Data Express Beta for MEDITECH MAGIC, the Solution for Sending MEDITECH HL7 Data to Physician EMRs, at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, California.

Emanuel Medical Center, a MEDITECH MAGIC facility with a 221-acute care bed capacity within a comprehensive medical campus, has served the growing community of Turlock, in Central California since its inception in 1917. Emanuel signed with Forward Advantage to be the MEDITECH MAGIC beta site for Data Express. “We needed a solution that would work with our MEDITECH MAGIC HCIS and support the growing demand for HL7 clinical data to be sent to our physician EMRs. We chose Data Express because it was a collaborative effort by Forward Advantage with MEDITECH; it was pre-configured to accept MEDITECH data and it’s based on the Communication Director platform, which we have found to be very reliable,” Wendy Burns, CIO, Emanuel Medical Center.

Emanuel’s completion of the Data Express beta for MEDITECH MAGIC facilities concluded with the successful delivery of MEDITECH HL7 data to several physicians at Romeo Medical Clinic, in Turlock, California using the GE Centricity Practice EMR solution. Dr. Mike Romeo, president and co-founder of Romeo Medical Clinic, was very pleased with the results of Emanuel’s implementation. “We are excited about how quick the interface was created and implemented. It is wonderful to receive the medical information so quickly and efficiently. The interface has saved us numerous phone calls to the lab for results, x-ray for readings, and physical therapy for office notes, all of which require office staff time. Emanuel’s implementation of Data Express has allowed us to focus on what we, as physicians, do best – provide excellent patient care.”

Recognized for meeting and exceeding their customers’ needs, MEDITECH and Forward Advantage have developed an interoperability solution specifically designed for hospitals using MEDITECH. Data Express receives HL7 lab, radiology and departmental data from a standard set of MEDITECH interfaces designed specifically for Data Express, and using a “one-to-many” model, transforms the data into a set of standard HL7 outputs for physicians’ electronic medical records (EMRs). And because many healthcare facilities are faced with the task of delivering data to a large variety of EMRs, Forward Advantage is working directly with EMR vendors to develop and offer data output libraries designed specifically for these EMRs.

“MEDITECH is uniquely focused on mobilizing data to meet the needs of a variety of care communities. Data Express, our collaborative effort with Forward Advantage, provides a standards-based approached to deliver HL7 data to physicians’ EMRs. This approach insures data integrity, a critical element of interoperability, while providing scalability on a trusted platform. Data Express empowers MEDITECH customers to mobilize their data: to see it, use it, and share it,” says Larry O’Toole, manager of business relations for MEDITECH.

“We are very excited about the success that Data Express is experiencing in health care communities,” says Darla Rigg, vice president of marketing and product management for Forward Advantage. “Data Express not only makes our MEDITECH customers’ lives easier through a streamlined deployment model, physicians are also happy with the solution and it’s positive impact on patient care, which is the ultimate goal of any data mobilization strategy.”

Emanuel Medical Center, utilizing Data Express, was able to meet their interoperability goals and provide their physicians with clinical HL7 data. Are you ready to meet your interoperability goals? For more details about how Data Express can benefit your facility, please call 877-636-7927 to speak with a Forward Advantage Data Express representative.

Transmitting report files via secure FTP now available with the Communication Director platform. Enhancing the flexibility of Communication Director, File Transfer provides a variety of file format options and adds to the delivery choices for SmartRoute, Communication Director’s intelligent report distribution system. File Transfer expands automated report distribution options by providing the flexibility to transmit report files across a network via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), secure FTP, or network file copy. Many workflow configurations can be implemented. For example, physician orders can be routed via inbound fax to a directory allowing for direct computer access and eliminating the paper process. Files can be delivered to directories where physicians’ office staff can quickly and securely obtain patient reports. On result or sign-off, reports can be routed to a directory for quick review by staff and allow for printing only when desired. File Transfer accepts reports via Communication Director’s SmartRoute functionality, and can convert them to copyable or non-copyable PDF formats, TIFF or DCX. File transfer can also convert most PCL documents into text files which can provide support for transfer into other systems. “We needed a solution that would accept MEDITECH reports, convert them to text files and transfer them to a shared network folder - this process enables us to COLD feed MEDITECH data to our new Document Imaging system,” says Sarah Bush, IS Analyst at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, IL. “We currently have a few Forward Advantage products and have found them to be reliable and work as described. I have always found the Forward Advantage staff to be very knowledgeable.” Chris Roggenstein, President and CEO of Forward Advantage, Inc., states: “Communication Director was developed and designed based on customer input, and File Transfer continues that tradition. The addition of File Transfer is a direct result of our customers’ commitment to Communication Director, and we are very excited about this feature and the many workflow scenarios it will enhance and streamline.” Communication Director now supporting Brooktrout PCI Express (PCIe) Boards Further enhancing the scalability of your Communication Director platform, Brooktrout TR1034 PCIe boards are now supported. If you’ve been considering adding outbound or inbound fax channels or IVR capability, you can now leverage any available PCIe slots. For more information, contact our sales team at (877) 636-7927.

Forward Advantage Announces Data Express – The MEDITECH Endorsed Solution Providing Delivery of HL7 Data to Physician EMRs. Data Express receives HL7 lab, radiology and departmental data from a standard set of MEDITECH interfaces designed specifically for Data Express by MEDITECH. And by using a “one-to-many” model, Data Express transforms the data into a set of standard HL7 outputs for an unlimited number of physicians’ EMRs, while also providing flexibility to meet all of your data distribution needs. As a part of MEDITECH’s Interoperability Suite and backed by a commitment from Forward Advantage and MEDITECH, customers will benefit from a dynamic solution that meets their needs now and in the future, by providing HL7 standard updates and market-driven content additions. Data Express provides a robust and dynamic solution, giving facilities an advantage in keeping ahead of the rapid and frequent changes in the evolving EMR industry. The initial release provides support for MEDITECH Client Server facilities, with MAGIC support coming soon. For more information about Data Express contact the Forward Advantage Sales Team at (877) 636 - 7927 or click on Products in the navigation bar above.

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Forward Advantage has formed a strategic partnership agreement with Courion® Corporation, the provisioning experts for results-driven operations. With deep roots serving the MEDITECH user community, Forward Advantage chose Courion as a strategic partner and will resell Courion’s Enterprise Provisioning Suite solution, which includes the AccountCourier® user provisioning solution and PasswordCourier® password provisioning solution, through its im-one initiative to more than 2,000 MEDITECH customers worldwide. For more information please call 877-636-7927.

Forward Advantage has formed a strategic partnership agreement with EpicTide, a leading provider of privacy auditing solutions. Under terms of the agreement Forward Advantage will resell EpicTide’s FairWarning privacy auditing solution through its im-one initiative to more than 2,000 MEDITECH customers worldwide. Forward Advantage’s im-one initiative brings together leading identity management technologies with professional services, offering the MEDITECH user community improved information security while increasing convenience for their clinicians to access their information systems. For more information about im-one, please call 877-636-7927.

Imprivata®, Inc., the enterprise authentication and access management appliance company, selected Forward Advantage as their 2006 iPartner of the Year award winner. “Our business strategy is dependent on talented and reliable resellers, so our iPartners are carefully chosen based on security market expertise and depth of technology experience,” said Omar Hussain, Imprivata CEO. “For these resellers to distinguish themselves among this company is a notable achievement and we expect these leaders will continue to inspire innovation in the market and in technology solutions provided to their customers.” Forward Advantage is proud to be recognized by Imprivata and continues to steadily gain recognition among health care leaders as an innovative company committed to delivering high quality products and services to over 800 health care customers.

Communication Director Version 3.60 Is Now Available Increase the all-around efficiency of your report delivery process with Communication Director Version 3.60. New features give you greater control over the delivery order, delivery method, and file format of your reports. With these features and more, Version 3.60 increases the flexibility and performance of your Communication Director server. For more information, please call (877) 636-7927.

Cleaning the bed is only part of the challenge to get it ready for another patient. Sooner or later the information about the room and bed status has to get back into your MEDITECH system. This intuitive interface allows your housekeeping staff to report the status of beds directly to your MEDITECH system from any phone. Bed Ready for Bed Board was built in collaboration with MEDITECH and specifically for MEDITECH facilities. Another example of how Forward Advantage is always working for you. For more information, please call (877)636-7927.