MALVERN, Pa., Jan. 23, 2006 - Furthering its leadership in connecting the communities of healthcare, Siemens Medical Solutions announces the general availability of Soarian Community Access, an information technology (IT) solution that enables healthcare providers to reach outside the walls of their organizations to securely connect with patients and other members of the healthcare community online - helping to build physician affinity, increase efficiency and streamline communications.

The latest addition to the Soarian family, Soarian Community Access is a Web-native solution that provides secure, single sign-on access to browser and non-browser-based applications, Web content, online services and content created by a health enterprise. It also features a Web-based messaging system for secure communications and information exchange between hospitals, physician providers, ancillary providers and patients.

Meeting the needs of both acute and ambulatory care providers, the solution is currently live at St. Luke's Health System, a 369-bed tertiary care center located in Boise, Idaho, and Northwest Physicians Network, a 424-member independent physician association located in Tacoma, Wash.
"While technology has progressed significantly, the challenge is still the same: connect `Main Street' physicians - who represent 80 percent of our nation's medical care providers - to information when and where it is needed," said Rick MacCornack, Ph.D., Director of Quality Improvement, Northwest Physicians Network. "In the south Puget Sound community, Soarian Community Access is helping us to break down the silos between provider institutions and providers themselves to improve the coordination of care for patients."

To this end, The Pierce County Medical Society and Northwest Physicians Network (NPN) have co-sponsored a major physician initiative to electronically connect all physicians in the Pierce County area with each other, their patients and all community partners who generate clinical information on patients. Named "The Network," this physician-led initiative has been using Soarian Community Access since October 2004. To date, more than 760 physicians and staff, and more than 150 patients are using The Network. Nearly 75,000 online communications have been generated since the inception of The Network.

Additionally, St. Luke's Health System, Idaho's largest healthcare provider, is providing access from the hospital to its physician community using Soarian Community Access single sign-on, remote access and secure communication features to streamline physician workflow, making it easier for physicians to work with the institution. With three full-service hospitals, 25 outpatient facilities and 600 physicians, St. Luke's treats more than 325,000 patients per year from Idaho and six adjoining states.

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