The Indian Well being Service has chosen Normal Dynamics Info Know-how Inc. to construct, configure, and keep a brand new IHS enterprise digital well being file system utilizing Oracle Cerner know-how.

The IHS, an company within the U.S. Division of Well being & Human Providers, gives well being service for about 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 574 federally acknowledged tribes in 37 states.

The contract with Normal Dynamics has a possible to succeed in $2.5 billion over 10 years. Oracle Cerner’s know-how can also be being utilized in modernization efforts on the Division of Protection and Division of Veterans Affairs. This yr, the VA has halted  deployments in its EHR Modernization effort whereas it prioritizes enhancements on the 5 websites that presently use the brand new EHR, as half of a bigger program reset.

The brand new IHS EHR will substitute the Useful resource and Affected person Administration System (RPMS), a 40-year-old system that handles all the things from affected person registration to insurance coverage billing. The objective of the up to date system is to modernize IHS’ healthcare supply and operations, making it simpler for sufferers and suppliers to entry up to date and correct info once they want it. 

“We’re prepared and keen to maneuver ahead with the enterprise EHR with our companions. It’s time to substitute our present system and be sure that IHS is retaining tempo with technological advances throughout the well being care supply system,” stated IHS Chief Info Officer and Director for the Workplace of Info Know-how Mitchell Thornbrugh, in an announcement. “This Modernization – and the know-how that drives it – will impression each a part of our healthcare supply. Most significantly, the brand new EHR will allow sufferers and their suppliers to have up to date and correct info to make the very best healthcare selections.”

This choice was made after a rigorous federal acquisition course of that was open to all distributors. All through the method, the IHS stated, it coordinated with tribal and concrete Indian group companions by means of intensive tribal engagement by way of tribal consultations, listening classes, city confers, advisory committee conferences, an Trade Day, and the participation of lots of of tribal, city Indian, and IHS system customers in vendor product demonstrations.

“It is a main milestone in our work to ship high quality fashionable well being care to American Indians and Alaska Natives,” stated IHS Director Roselyn Tso, in an announcement. “With the brand new EHR system, sufferers could have higher entry to their very own well being info, suppliers can extra successfully coordinate affected person care out and in of our community, and we will higher observe the well being of tribal communities total.”

A cross-disciplinary technical analysis panel evaluated the submitted proposals. The IHS stated it chosen Normal Dynamics as a result of it had the strongest total technical strategy, demonstrated expertise deploying complicated info know-how programs for the federal authorities, and is providing a extremely succesful EHR product that was well-received by system customers collaborating in scenario-based demonstration classes. Because the EHR system integrator, GDIT will handle numerous firms on its staff and shall be accountable to IHS for the general efficiency of the EHR substitute.

The IHS selected to make use of an Indefinite Supply, Indefinite Amount (IDIQ) contract construction for this requirement to help the recurring wants anticipated within the enterprise EHR. Below the IDIQ contract construction, the IHS will challenge particular job orders for technical help and providers. This offers the IHS the flexibility to regulate what it purchases, incorporate classes discovered, consumer enter, and availability of recent know-how.