CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--InterSystems Corporation, a global leader in health information technology, today announced a strategic collaboration with resuscitation and acute care provider ZOLL® Medical Corporation, to improve the bidirectional exchange of patient health information (PHI) between EMS providers, physicians, and emergency departments, accelerating holistic and high-quality patient care delivery.

One of the most significant and dangerous gaps in patient care has remained between EMS providers and emergency departments. The antiquated approach of EMS sharing PHI via radio or hard copy reports with receiving hospitals often results in physicians not receiving all of the necessary information in a timely manner. With PHI also only moving in one direction, EMS providers are unable to access essential information when delivering care. Without this timely bidirectional flow of information, the quality of care provided by EMS is compromised and the potential for a patient to be sent to an out-of-network emergency room or have unnecessary tests or procedures dramatically increases.

“The consolidation of health records across hospitals and the implementation of more robust national, state, and regional HIE standards have presented a significant opportunity for EMS care delivery,” said Greg Mears, MD, medical director at ZOLL Data Management Products. “The ability to electronically share PHI with other care providers across the continuum of care enables us to close care gaps, empower care teams, measure outcomes, and, most importantly, drive better care delivery forward.”

Through the implementation of InterSystems HealthShare, ZOLL created the ZOLL Care Exchange to change how EMS providers communicate with hospitals and health care providers. The ZOLL Care Exchange will also improve EMS quality and reimbursement efficiency by providing more timely and complete updates on patient outcomes and diagnoses.

“Beginning with the call to 911, EMS dispatchers and care providers begin a process of triage and patient evaluation. Understanding the patient’s baseline medical condition along with understanding where they receive their baseline care is critical to determining how best to care and where to transport a patient. It’s essential that this data be integrated with the patient’s EMS health record and then follows that patient throughout the entire health event to ensure the best care delivery at every touchpoint,” said Don Woodlock, vice president of InterSystems HealthShare. “HealthShare’s connectivity with other hospitals and providers makes it easy to package that information into a digital EMS health record, allowing for greater connectivity for responders and a better care experience for the patient.”

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