SynerMed Announces Partnership with Torrance Hospital IPA to Deliver Next-Generation IT Solution, Prepare for EHR Interoperability

Business Wire, June 23, 2009

LOS ANGELES -- SynerMed, Inc., the largest Medicaid managed service organization (MSO) in the country, today announced an agreement to provide a comprehensive information technology solution to Torrance Hospital Independent Practice Association (THIPA).

SynerMed will serve as the IPA’s informational technology hub, offering services that will enable THIPA to effectively communicate with physicians, employees, and medical directors via an easy-to-use, seamless, and secure system. THIPA is SynerMed’s first client in which this technology backbone has been introduced.

Under the terms of the agreement, SynerMed will provide:

• Access to SynerMedConnect™ for complete electronic medical management online via a secure portal, www.synermedconnect.com
• Health exchange workflow software, for enhanced productivity and a maximized exchange of data between related parties
• Inbound and outbound fax services
• Authorizations and claims scrubbing technology
• Healthcare management reporting solutions

“With more than 20 years' experience in managed care, THIPA strives to provide the highest quality care and services, and easy, direct access to highly trained physicians and surgeons,” said Joanne Moser, Chief Operating Officer of THIPA. “Our arrangement with SynerMed will elevate our organization to the next level - improving workflow between physicians, medical directors, and administration under an easy-to-use system that promotes an effective exchange of medical information.”

The Future of Interoperability

According to health information technology provisions outlined in the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), commonly referred to as the “economic stimulus package,” the federal government will offer incentives to physicians who acquire and can display “meaningful use” of certified electronic health records (EHRs) that demonstrate interoperability over the next five years. Approximately $34 billion dollars are targeted as provider-adoption incentives for the use of EHRs through Medicare and Medicaid.

According to James Mason, president and chief operating officer of SynerMed, the company’s platform will act as a hub for medical records for its managed care providers and hospital networks, and will offer seamless interoperability between different EHR systems for customers like THIPA, by the end of 2009.

“SynerMed continues to expand its services and refine its technology to exceed industry standards for medical information and healthcare management,” he said. “Our technology will allow THIPA physicians on different platforms the ability to communicate patient history information; and our workflow solution, combined with SynerMedConnect, will enable complete medical records to be transported to the point-of-care. Physicians will have the ability to access to pertinent medical records, lab results, and pharmacy data for use in treating patients. It will be seamless.”

By integrating physicians through technology, utilizing evidence-based medicine and streamlining work flow and management processes, SynerMed enables the delivery of efficient, cost-effective and high-quality coordinated care to more than half a million members throughout the United States.

About Torrance Hospital IPA

Torrance Hospital IPA is a physician-owned organization serving senior and commercial HMO patients since 1985. The organization is comprised of a large number of physicians, representing over 400 primary care and specialty doctors in private practice throughout the South Bay (Southern California). Its doctors are independently practicing physicians and are dedicated to providing patients with quality care in each of their offices. THIPA has an exclusive relationship with Torrance Memorial Medical Center, one of the top one hundred hospitals. Because the group's focus is small, they can offer more personal service and the most efficient use of medical resources. For this reason, THIPA is an acknowledged leader in healthcare management and its physicians are committed to providing the best care and service to their patients. To learn more about THIPA and its panel of physicians call (310) 540-1070, ext. 257 or visit the website at http://www.thipa.com.

About SynerMed, Inc.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., SynerMed is the leading government program-focused managed services organization (MSO) in the country. The company’s physician-centric IPA model promotes growth and sustainability for individual physicians by providing access to SynerMed’s robust offering of products, services and management tools. By integrating physicians through technology, utilizing evidence-based medicine and streamlining work flow and management processes, SynerMed enables the delivery of efficient, cost-effective and high-quality coordinated care to more than half a million members throughout the United States. SynerMed leverages existing relationships with all major Medicaid, commercial and Medicare health plans with an impressive suite of proprietary products and services to create seamless solutions that meet each client’s highly specific needs. For more information, visit www.isynermed.com.