OREANDA-NEWS. July 23, 2012. McKesson announced that three additional multi-facility hospitals have selected Paragon®, McKesson's top-rated hospital information system (HIS), to serve their growing organizations. Hospital leaders cited the depth and breadth of Paragon's fully integrated financial and clinical system, as well as lower total cost of ownership (TCO), as key selection criteria, reported the press-centre of McKesson.  

"With Paragon's single database platform serving all of our hospitals, we are well-positioned to provide excellent care to our patients regardless of the facility where they receive that care," said Sean Reigle, chief information officer, Pacific Health Corporation, which owns and operates four hospitals in Southern California. "With its broad scope and deep expertise in the challenges we face, McKesson is the right candidate to partner with us in support of our long-term goals, including preparation for meaningful use and health reform."

As a provider for a large Medicaid and underserved population, Pacific Health selected Paragon a few years ago to improve financial performance and now is adding clinical applications. "Paragon gives clinicians the advanced capabilities they need to make better-informed decisions," said Reigle. "Our leadership team is excited because we believe that this technology will help us attract top-notch physicians, nurses and other clinicians, which in turn enables us to provide better care for patients."

Also in California, Physicians for Healthy Hospitals selected Paragon to support multiple facilities cost-effectively. Formed in October 2010, the organization is a coalition of more than 100 physicians whose goal is to create state-of-the-art hospitals that can serve as centers of excellence. "After conducting a rigorous competitive selection process, we chose Paragon because it offers deep functionality at an attractive total cost of ownership," said Kali Priyo Chaudhuri, member of Physicians for Healthy Hospitals' Board of Directors. "We are confident that McKesson can help us make progress on our path to meaningful use and beyond without the need to employ a team of costly consultants for years to come."

A third new Paragon customer, Optim Healthcare, is a multi-facility orthopedic specialty system near Savannah, Georgia. This progressive organization expects Paragon to help enable the sharing of clinical and financial information across its facilities and offer a consolidated view of its performance. Leaders cited Paragon's low TCO and ability to support their ambitious expansion strategy as key drivers in the decision.

The benefits of the Paragon HIS align with McKesson's Better Health 2020 initiative, which is designed to help healthcare providers achieve better patient care, better business health and better connectivity as health reform unfolds. Critical success factors addressed by Better Health 2020 include maximizing the value of technology, reducing costs while improving quality, connecting and coordinating care, and managing advanced payment models.

"Shifts in the healthcare industry are fueling the emergence of more large, multi-facility hospitals," said Jim Pesce, president, Paragon, McKesson Provider Technologies. "Our goal is to help these growing organizations use technology to improve care and performance while reducing complexity and cost. Together, we're shaping the future of healthcare."

About Pacific Health Corporation
Pacific Health Corporation was established in 1984 and is headquartered in Tustin, Calif. It is a privately held corporation that currently owns and operates four hospitals, all of them in Southern California.

About Physicians for Healthy Hospitals, Inc.
Physicians for Healthy Hospitals (PHH) is a coalition of local doctors who are committed to creating strong, state-of-the-art hospitals that serve as centers of medical excellence in the Hemet, San Jacinto, and Menifee Valleys, Calif. PHH currently owns and operates two hospitals and two facilities offering chemical dependency services.

About Optim Healthcare
Optim Healthcare is owned by a group of 28 orthopedic specialists, providing a range of care including adult and pediatric orthopedics, spine and joint care, sports medicine, and pain management, as well as hand and upper extremities care. Optim operates more than two dozen locations across Southern and Central Georgia.

About McKesson
McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 14th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better. We partner with payers, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson helps its customers improve their financial, operational, and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, healthcare information technology, and business and clinical services. For more information, visit http://www.mckesson.com.