Cerner is partnering with the Duke Clinical Research Institute to pilot the Cerner Learning Health Network, which aims to automate data collection and expand medical researchers' access to patient health information.
At the Durham, N.C.-based research institute, Duke researchers will use the Cerner Learning Health Network to analyze the use and impact of proven therapies for cardiovascular disease. For the pilot project and study, DCRI will use Cerner technology to examine de-identified patient data from Columbia-based University of Missouri Health Care and Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin, in partnership with Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. DCRI aims to publish its research results from the pilot in a study sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
"At Cerner, we're committed to taking four decades of digitized data and transforming it into insights that can help clinicians make more informed treatment decisions," said Art Glasgow, Cerner senior vice president of strategic growth, according to the news release. "We have an opportunity to use clinical research and data-driven insights to develop an intelligent network of health systems that can truly improve health experiences and outcomes for patients."
After the pilot project and study finish, Cerner clients will be able to use the EHR vendor's HealtheDataLab tool, which leverages Cerner's big data and insights platform for population health management, in conjunction with the Learning Health Network to aggregate de-identified patient data from both Cerner and non-Cerner EHRs.
Researchers can use the de-identified patient data to create research models and algorithms that can help aid care decisions. Predictive modeling and artificial intelligence will help the platform support early detection of patients who may be at risk for costly episodes of care as well as help identify most effective and cost-efficient treatments.