FRANKLIN, Tenn., Oct. 3, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MedQuist Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:MEDH), a leading provider of integrated clinical documentation solutions for the U.S. healthcare system, announced a strategic alliance with Anthelio Healthcare Solutions Inc., the leading independent provider of comprehensive healthcare information technology ("IT") services and business process solutions for hospitals and other healthcare providers.
The partnership is aimed at easing the pressures the healthcare industry is facing with the cost burdens of more than $300 billion of annual administrative services by improving clinical documentation initiatives, revenue cycle management and IT efficiency. Both organizations have created integrated technology and clinical documentation and business process solutions that enhance the ability of caregivers to deliver outstanding patient care and drive fiscal success.
Currently MedQuist has 11 Anthelio facilities under contract and will provide clinical documentation services to an additional 13 Anthelio facilities as part of the new relationship. This will standardize all of these customers on MedQuist technology and services. MedQuist clinical documentation technology and services will be immediately available to the entire Anthelio customer base.
Additionally, MedQuist will make its voice-enabled Electronic Health Record (EHR) solutions – Front-End Speech Recognition (FESR) and Natural Language Understanding (NLU) solutions – available to Anthelio clients to help them more rapidly adopt their EHRs and accelerate Meaningful Use. As well, Anthelio will have the additional opportunity to utilize MedQuist computer-assisted-coding (CAC) and computer assisted abstracting (CAA) technology to support their ICD-10 transition.
Through the partnership, MedQuist will also incorporate Anthelio's Revenue Cycle Management and IT solutions into its service portfolio. This includes such revenue cycle services as ICD-10 Transition Services, A/R management, business office management and patient access solutions.
"Capture and dissemination of the comprehensive patient story at the point of care is critical to clinical decision making and driving value from effective business process execution," said MedQuist Holdings Chairman and CEO Vern Davenport. "Partnering with Anthelio will help our joint clients realize efficiencies throughout their organizations with the combination of our innovative technology and services."
MedQuist has an extensive healthcare footprint with a client base of more than 2,400 hospitals and clinics, 850 physician practices and 165,000 physician users. Additionally, it has a broad network of other business partners such as EHR and technology vendors, along with medical transcription service organizations (MTSOs). Combined, this ecosystem of clients and business partners touches millions of patients every day, providing full value through meaningful and actionable interactive clinical documentation.
"The healthcare industry faces unprecedented operational and technology challenges that create crippling administrative services burdens and inefficiency for too many hospitals and health systems in the U.S.," said Richard S. Garnick, Chief Executive Officer of Anthelio. "This partnership will provide a comprehensive platform to leverage technology, innovation and improved processes to create new efficiencies in healthcare and help raise the standard of care. We remain focused on finding new ways to redefine the fundamental economics of the hospital system, and believe our strategic partnership with MedQuist will help drive top and bottom line results, and expand our offering to help hospitals realize cost efficiencies and scale."
MedQuist
MedQuist is a leading provider of clinical narrative capture services, Speech Understanding technology from M*Modal and clinical documentation workflow. MedQuist's enterprise solutions – including mobile voice capture devices, speech recognition, Web-based workflow platforms and global network of medical editors – help healthcare facilities facilitate adoption of electronic health records (EHR), improve patient care, increase physician satisfaction and lower operational costs. For more information, please visit www.medquist.com.
About Anthelio
Anthelio is the largest independent provider of information technology and business process services to hospitals, physician practice groups and other healthcare providers. By provisioning hospitals with comprehensive, high-quality, flexible and secure IT services, Anthelio improves hospitals' healthcare services while reducing costs and streamlining processes. It leverages knowledge and expertise built over a decade of operations about clinical and administrative IT processes and best practices to provide improved IT and BPO services at lower costs to customers. Anthelio is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. For additional information, visit the company's website at http://www.antheliohealth.com/.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding MedQuist's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements. As a result, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.