Continua and the IHE Collaborate to Strengthen Outreach and Message

CHICAGO (October 28, 2008) - Collaborating to improve the delivery of healthcare, the Continua Health Alliance (Continua) and Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise International (IHE) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) to enable and promote interoperability of healthcare devices. Both Continua and IHE recognize the need for and benefit of connecting medical and patient care devices with the healthcare system, a synergy that supports the joint educational and marketing efforts between the organizations.

"Continua Health Alliance is dedicated to enabling a marketplace of connected, personal health solutions to empower consumers and patients to take control of their personal health," said David Whitlinger, Continua Health Alliance president. "We're excited to work with IHE to help make this connectivity at the enterprise level a reality so patients can stay connected to their healthcare providers."

New audiences: The agreement also helps both Continua and IHE expand their outreach to new audiences. Continua focuses on the personal telehealth industry with initial emphasis on fitness, managing chronic disease and aging independently. Within these groups are healthcare providers, insurance companies and government organizations, groups that IHE reaches through its programming and membership.

Continua complements the broad clinical-based IHE portfolio by addressing the consumer-directed personal health segment. Both organizations will be introduced to new constituencies who may not be familiar with their healthcare programs. Collaborative programs between the two organizations may include:

• Joint participation in the Interoperability Showcase at HIMSS09
• Webinars conducted by IHE and Continua for new audiences
• Development of educational materials on the value of interoperability

Those constituencies for Continua include patients, caregivers, and healthcare and fitness providers to help them better understand and address their ongoing health and wellness needs. With the goal to establish interoperability guidelines and its certification program, the organization focuses on ways to improve health and well being through every stage of life.

Through its framework that facilitates the exchange of digital patient health information, IHE improves the way computer systems in healthcare share information. In less than a decade, IHE has become a global organization for healthcare professionals and industry, with IHE specifications now being used in North America, Asia and Europe.

"IHE welcomes this opportunity to collaborate with Continua to promote the need for interoperable devices that seamlessly and accurately capture patient and consumer data," said Joyce Sensmeier, RN, HIMSS vice president, informatics. HIMSS, in partnership with the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), introduced the IHE initiative in 1998. Ms. Sensmeier continues as the IHE contact for HIMSS. "The healthcare industry is advancing toward the adoption of electronic medical records and other health IT systems, and automatically capturing and transporting data through devices will streamline workflow and improve the quality and efficiency of care delivery and enhance consumer health."

About Continua: The Continua Health Alliance is a collaborative industry organization dedicated to bringing together standards and diverse technology to create new health and wellness solutions. The Continua Health Alliance envisions a market place of interoperable devices that enable better care, empower consumers and connect healthcare providers to their patients. Continua focuses on three key categories: Health and Fitness, Chronic Disease Management, Aging Independently and promotes better management of health and wellness at every stage of life.

Link to HIMSS News here.