News Release

Print this Page

Novant Health, Inc. Forms Strategic Alliance with MEDai

Orlando, FL (February 02, 2001) – MEDai, Inc., of Orlando, Florida, and Novant Health, Inc., a Winston-Salem, NC -based healthcare system have entered into a long-term strategic alliance to develop a user-driven clinical data services model using MEDai's clinical decision tools. The new business venture, called Novant Health Information Services, will initially provide information to caregivers throughout the Novant Health system. It eventually plans to provide shared clinical information services to other healthcare providers, employers and research entities throughout the southeastern U.S. Paul Wiles, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novant Health, Inc., said, "We truly believe we are defining the clinical data management model for the future. This alliance with MEDai will enable Novant to create a systemwide view of health management, healthcare technology and outcomes. It creates a 'core knowledge' base that will provide caregivers with the information they need and will use to improve community health outcomes."

MEDai, Inc. is a computer information services company, software developer and tools provider that uses artificial intelligence to assist healthcare providers and payers. It measures such variables as quality, efficiency, disease severity, and outcomes with superior predictability.

The Novant-MEDai partnership is an excellent philosophical and strategic fit for both entities. MEDai's artificial intelligence solutions were, by design, created to provide user- driven clinical information to help caregivers better analyze and fine-tune clinical outcomes. Novant's philosophy that clinical information must be user-driven is a perfect fit for MEDai's capabilities. "Our artificial intelligence technology can be applied to Novant's clinical information to determine the appropriateness, efficiency and effectiveness of treatment," said Andrew Larkowich, Chief Operating Officer at MEDai, Inc. "These powerful tools will help Novant analyze, evaluate, track and improve patient outcomes. We are very pleased to be associated with one of the finest integrated delivery systems in the U.S., and we are also gratified that they chose our artificial intelligence solutions to help them with their initiative to improve clinical-driven information," Mr. Larkowich concluded. Novant Health, a not-for-profit integrated healthcare system with facilities throughout the North Carolina Piedmont Region, has 12,500 employees at seven hospitals, 28 outpatient facilities, physician practices and specialty centers and three long-term care facilities.

Novant Health serves more than 3.4 million people in 32 counties stretching from southern Virginia to Northern South Carolina. The company was formed in 1997 by the merger of Carolina MediCorp Inc. in Winston-Salem and Presbyterian Healthcare System in Charlotte. The largest components of Novant Health are Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, Community General Hospital in Thomasville and PARTNERS National Health Plans of North Carolina Inc., a nationally recognized health maintenance organization. For more information contact: