Orchard Software, Marshfield Clinic Health System partnership streamlines laboratory processes

Orchard Software and Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) are partnering to use advanced IT solutions to map complex laboratory workflows to maximize efficiency and reduce waste, increasing Marshfield Labs’ ability to contribute to improved patient care outcomes and cost savings.

Orchard Software has entered into a long-term agreement with MCHS to provide state-of-the-art Laboratory Information System (LIS) technology to deliver integrated diagnostics across a comprehensive, patient-centered network of more than 50 Marshfield Clinic practice locations throughout northern, central and western Wisconsin.

This collaborative alignment will support patient care improvements by using vanguard technology supporting the future of health care with a focus on population health management, efficiency and proactive patient care.

Curt Johnson, Chief Operating Officer at Orchard Software, said the two organizations have aligned goals that center on MCHS’ future needs.

“To be successful in the new health care environment, both organizations recognize that value-based medicine and population health management require state-of-the-art diagnostics and analytical tools as designed in our new enterprise-class LIS, Orchard® Sequoia™,” Johnson said. “The evolution of health care to deliver greater value requires a timely and accurate diagnosis to determine the most appropriate treatment plan. Diagnostic information is the new currency in the future of health care and Orchard Sequoia is the laboratory information system designed in the 21st century for the 21st century.”

Dr. Thomas Fritsche, medical director of Marshfield Labs, a division of MCHS, said Orchard Software’s new, enhanced LIS informatics technology fortifies MCHS’s unique status as a system of laboratories supporting hospitals, clinics, ambulatory care centers, veterinary practices and research testing.

“What makes this all possible is the new business process mapping schema in Sequoia that configures the LIS to match our enhanced workflow, rather than our labs having to adjust their workflow to fit the software,” Fritsche said. “This concept simplifies installation and aligns beautifully with our emerging LEAN processes.”

Pam Carter, Marshfield Labs’ administrative director, said Orchard Sequoia uses a single database to provide integrated results and linked images for dashboards, reporting and data mining. In addition, the new technology gives Marshfield Labs flexibility in reporting to easily add tables and graphs to reports.

“The partnership with Orchard allows the Lab (MCHS) to implement state of the industry software which allows us to operate very cost effectively and efficiently,” Carter said. “This is achieved through the application of Orchard’s business process software mapping to the lab’s workflows, removing waste from the lab’s processes.

“Orchard is looking forward to being a part of MCHS’s superior patient care,” Johnson said. “We’re excited to be progressive in our product development – to enhance Sequoia’s integrated reporting, advanced dashboard capabilities and superior flexibility to the level required by cutting-edge, progressive laboratories such as Marshfield Clinic Health System.”

About Marshfield Clinic Health System

Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) oversees Marshfield Clinic and other subsidiaries, including Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc., Marshfield Clinic Information Services, Flambeau Hospital in Park Falls and Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Marshfield Clinic, with more than 50 locations in Wisconsin, serves patients through accessible, high quality health care, research and education; with more than 700 physician specialists in over 80 specialties and subspecialties and more than 6,500 employees. MCHS is overseen by a Board of Directors with 13 independent members and 11 physicians comprising the Marshfield Clinic Board. Also part of MCHS are Marshfield Labs and Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation both of whom provide services to clients, patients and companies nationwide.

For additional information regarding Marshfield Clinic Health System, visit www.marshfieldclinic.org or contact Jeff Starck at (715) 389-4878 or via email starck.jeffrey@marshfieldclinic.org.

About Orchard Software

Orchard Software Corporation (Carmel, IN), founded in 1993, is a leader in the laboratory information system industry, and offers a variety of lab system solutions. Orchard’s products are installed in all sizes of multi-site and multi-specialty physician groups and clinics, hospitals, independent reference labs, student health centers, veterinary labs, and public health organizations. Orchard’s best-of-breed laboratory systems provide rules-based decision-support, ICD screening, data mining for analytics, and seamless integration to support point-of-care, clinical, microbiology, molecular, cytology, and anatomic pathology testing. Orchard also offers laboratory outreach and integration tools for EHR connectivity, remote access, and linking lab networks. Orchard serves more than 1,500 laboratories across the country helping them to improve efficiency, reduce errors, enhance integration, and improve patient care.

For additional information about Orchard Software and its informatics products, please visit www.orchardsoft.com