New York-based health IT innovator, Altera Digital Health, has announced the general availability of its Paragon Denali electronic health record (EHR) system, a robust solution built on the Microsoft Azure platform. This strategic deployment marks a significant advancement in healthcare technology, particularly catering to the needs of rural, critical access, and community hospitals across the United States.
The introduction of Paragon Denali as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering underscores a pivotal shift towards cloud-based EHR systems within the healthcare sector. By leveraging Microsoft Azure's scalable and secure cloud infrastructure, Altera Digital Health aims to deliver enhanced system reliability and data accessibility. These features are crucial for supporting organizational growth and improving user experiences, all while minimizing the need for substantial hardware investments and complex maintenance routines.
"Paragon Denali represents a transformative step in how healthcare systems manage their electronic records," said Mark Bruno, Executive Vice President for Paragon at Altera. "Designed specifically for rural and community hospitals, our platform addresses the unique challenges these institutions face, enabling them to keep pace with industry advancements without the burden of excessive resource allocation."
Meghan Bisping, Chief Information Officer of Pipeline Health System in El Segundo, California, highlighted the system's impact, stating, "Paragon has been an essential investment for our healthcare system, driving EHR best practices across our hospitals." Her endorsement reflects the practical benefits of Paragon Denali in real-world healthcare settings, where efficient, reliable, and secure data management is paramount.
"With Paragon Denali, we provide a secure and compliant solution that meets stringent regulatory requirements while offering the scalability needed for future growth," Bruno explained. This balance of security and scalability is essential for healthcare institutions aiming to maintain high standards of patient care and data integrity.
Dr. Mark Pratt, Chief Medical Officer at Altera, emphasized the complexity of managing healthcare organizations: "People often forget that rural and community hospitals do many of the same things as large health systems, from the revenue cycle to regulatory reporting. These are still highly complex organizations that share many of the same challenges as big hospitals but with fewer resources."
These developments signify a competitive and rapidly evolving landscape, where cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence are becoming integral to the future of healthcare IT.
Microsoft's Azure platform provides the foundational technology that allows EHR systems like Paragon Denali to offer enhanced performance, security, and scalability. This partnership exemplifies how strategic alliances between healthcare IT companies and technology providers can drive meaningful advancements in patient care and operational efficiency.
As healthcare systems continue to grapple with the challenges of modernizing their IT infrastructures, solutions like Paragon Denali offer a viable path forward. They not only address immediate operational needs but also lay the groundwork for sustained innovation and growth in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
Source: Healthcare IT News Altera makes comprehensive Azure-based EHR available
Transforming Healthcare with Cloud-Based Solutions
The introduction of Paragon Denali as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering underscores a pivotal shift towards cloud-based EHR systems within the healthcare sector. By leveraging Microsoft Azure's scalable and secure cloud infrastructure, Altera Digital Health aims to deliver enhanced system reliability and data accessibility. These features are crucial for supporting organizational growth and improving user experiences, all while minimizing the need for substantial hardware investments and complex maintenance routines."Paragon Denali represents a transformative step in how healthcare systems manage their electronic records," said Mark Bruno, Executive Vice President for Paragon at Altera. "Designed specifically for rural and community hospitals, our platform addresses the unique challenges these institutions face, enabling them to keep pace with industry advancements without the burden of excessive resource allocation."
Addressing the Unique Needs of Rural and Community Hospitals
Rural and community hospitals often operate with limited resources compared to their urban counterparts, making the adoption of advanced EHR systems both a necessity and a challenge. Paragon Denali's cloud-based framework offers these institutions a lifeline, providing access to cutting-edge technologies that were previously out of reach due to cost and infrastructure constraints.Meghan Bisping, Chief Information Officer of Pipeline Health System in El Segundo, California, highlighted the system's impact, stating, "Paragon has been an essential investment for our healthcare system, driving EHR best practices across our hospitals." Her endorsement reflects the practical benefits of Paragon Denali in real-world healthcare settings, where efficient, reliable, and secure data management is paramount.
Enhanced Security and Compliance
One of the standout features of Paragon Denali is its advanced security controls, a critical aspect in the management of sensitive patient data. The cloud-based nature of the system ensures that data is not only accessible from various locations but also protected against unauthorized access and potential breaches. This level of security is especially important for smaller hospitals that may lack the extensive IT security resources of larger health systems."With Paragon Denali, we provide a secure and compliant solution that meets stringent regulatory requirements while offering the scalability needed for future growth," Bruno explained. This balance of security and scalability is essential for healthcare institutions aiming to maintain high standards of patient care and data integrity.
Aligning with Industry Trends
The healthcare industry is witnessing a broader trend towards the adoption of cloud-based EHRs, robotic process automation (RPA), and other innovative technologies. These advancements are proving to be invaluable for rural and community hospitals, which must navigate similar regulatory landscapes and financial pressures as larger health systems but often with fewer resources.Dr. Mark Pratt, Chief Medical Officer at Altera, emphasized the complexity of managing healthcare organizations: "People often forget that rural and community hospitals do many of the same things as large health systems, from the revenue cycle to regulatory reporting. These are still highly complex organizations that share many of the same challenges as big hospitals but with fewer resources."
Competing Innovations in the EHR Market
Altera Digital Health's release of Paragon Denali is part of a larger movement within the EHR market, where major players are introducing advanced, cloud-based solutions. Notably, Oracle recently unveiled its AI-enabled EHR system built on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. This new system emphasizes secure automation across clinical workflows, enabling faster insights and streamlined documentation at the point of care.These developments signify a competitive and rapidly evolving landscape, where cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence are becoming integral to the future of healthcare IT.
Microsoft's Role in Advancing Healthcare Technology
The collaboration between Altera Digital Health and Microsoft underscores the tech giant's commitment to fostering innovation in healthcare. Todd Mersch, General Manager of Health and Life Sciences at Microsoft, remarked, "The cloud represents a new era for healthcare, enabling organizations to respond to evolving clinical and operational pressures while empowering providers with robust data and AI-driven capabilities."Microsoft's Azure platform provides the foundational technology that allows EHR systems like Paragon Denali to offer enhanced performance, security, and scalability. This partnership exemplifies how strategic alliances between healthcare IT companies and technology providers can drive meaningful advancements in patient care and operational efficiency.
Future Implications for Healthcare Systems
The deployment of Paragon Denali is poised to have far-reaching impacts on how rural and community hospitals manage their operations and patient care. By reducing the reliance on costly hardware and simplifying maintenance, hospitals can allocate more resources towards improving patient outcomes and expanding services. Additionally, the enhanced data accessibility facilitates better decision-making and fosters a more collaborative healthcare environment.As healthcare systems continue to grapple with the challenges of modernizing their IT infrastructures, solutions like Paragon Denali offer a viable path forward. They not only address immediate operational needs but also lay the groundwork for sustained innovation and growth in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
Conclusion
Altera Digital Health's launch of the Paragon Denali EHR on Microsoft Azure marks a significant milestone in the integration of cloud technology within the healthcare sector. By focusing on the specific needs of rural and community hospitals, Paragon Denali provides a comprehensive, secure, and scalable solution that empowers these institutions to deliver high-quality care while navigating the complexities of today's healthcare environment. As the industry continues to embrace cloud-based innovations, the collaboration between healthcare IT providers and technology giants like Microsoft will be instrumental in shaping the future of patient care and healthcare management.Source: Healthcare IT News Altera makes comprehensive Azure-based EHR available
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