Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1092388
70 CIO / HEALTH IT VA chooses Cerner's scheduling software over Epic's By Julie Spitzer T he U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has decided to scrap its scheduling soware project with Epic and switch to a service from Cerner, the Politico Morn- ing eHealth newsletter reported. Seven things to know: 1. In 2015, the VA signed a $624 million deal with Epic to use its scheduling soware. 2. e project with Epic was ultimately delayed as the VA weighed whether it would rather use a homegrown scheduling system compat- ible with its legacy EHR, VistA. en, in June 2017, the VA announced its decision to over- haul VistA and transition to a Cerner system. 3. In the wake of its EHR decision, VA officials continued to debate whether to continue the Epic project. e agency opted to pilot Epic's soware at a VA facility in Columbus, Ohio. 4. e scheduling soware went live at the Ohio VA in April 2018 — nine months aer the project started — and on budget, accord- ing to information Epic provided Becker's Hospital Review via email. In addition, Epic's scheduling soware reportedly helped the VA complete more appointments, reduce wait times and improve scheduling productivity. Epic added that the project likely could have been rolled out at the VA systemwide in under two years, at half the project's original budget. 5, However, Congress advised the VA in De- cember to fast-track the Cerner scheduling soware to all VA facilities by 2024. e move was confirmed in a congressional document reviewed by Politico. 6. In reaction to the decision, Epic provided the following statement to Becker's Hospital Review: "Given that Cerner was awarded a no-bid con- tract to replace VistA, we recognized VA would likely be required to use Cerner scheduling at some point in the future. We thank VA, our partners, and the team at the Columbus VA Ambulatory Care Center for their work on a wonderfully successful scheduling pilot." 7. A handful of private health systems in the U.S. currently use Epic for scheduling and a Cerner EHR in their practices, according to Epic. n Athenahealth goes private under new ownership By Julie Spitzer P rivate equity firm Veritas Capital and Elliott Management-affili- ate Evergreen Coast Capital completed their acquisition of ath- enahealth Feb. 11 for approximately $5.7 billion in cash. As a result of the sale's completion, shares of athenahealth common stock were removed from listing on Nasdaq, and trading in athen- ahealth shares was suspended. Veritas is combining athenahealth with Virence Health, a value-based care business that Veritas acquired from GE Healthcare in 2018. The combined company will keep the athenahealth name, brand and Watertown, Mass.-based headquarters, and will be led by Virence Chairman and CEO Bob Segert. Its executive leadership team will be composed of executives from both companies. "Athenahealth is one of the most unique and valuable assets in healthcare — with industry-leading solutions and a vision and model for delivering financial and clinical results for providers," Mr. Segert said in a news release. "By combining our companies' cultures, solu- tions and teams, we have an opportunity to accelerate that vision, achieving a scale that will allow us to unlock new value for all of our customers. Today marks the first step in our new journey as a united team, and we are more committed than ever to investing in innova- tion, delivering a superior customer experience, and continuing our collective mission to transform healthcare." The sale's closing marks the end of monthslong speculation about whether athenahealth would remain independent or be acquired, which began in May 2018, after activist investment firm Elliott Man- agement issued an unsolicited takeover bid to buy the company. Athenahealth shareholders approved the sale Feb. 7. n Cerner to lay off 129 from Georgia project By Julie Spitzer C erner plans to cut 129 positions as part of its contract with Augusta Uni- versity Health in Georgia comes to an end, effective March 31, according to a filing with the state and reported by Atlanta Inno. The news comes just weeks after Cerner of- fered some employees a "voluntary depar- ture" deal, which a company spokesper- son confirmed to Becker's Hospital Review Jan. 22. The Cerner spokesperson did not specify how many employees were offered buyouts. The buyouts are not related to the most recently announced layoffs. The North Kansas City, Mo.-based EHR ven- dor has about 29,000 employees worldwide. When contacted by Becker's Hospital Re- view, Cerner issued the following statement: "It is important to clarify that this is not a traditional layoff. AU Health and Cerner are working together and the university will provide offers of employment, due to this change to our contract." n