Sharp HealthCare is expanding its partnership with Cerner to include additional solutions and services.
"Sharp is making a significant investment in its well-established collaboration with Cerner, which began in 1995, and [is] extending it for another eight years," Dan Gross, executive vice president for hospital operations at the San Diego-based health system, said in a news release.
Under the expanded agreement, Sharp will deploy Cerner's latest solutions and services to connect data across its facilities. By making health data more accessible, the organization hopes to better inform treatment decisions and patient care.
Sharp will use Cerner's EHR to support the 200-plus primary and specialty care physicians that practice at its outpatient facilities and independent physician practice group. For example, the health system's independent physician association Sharp Community Medical Group will work with Cerner on a population health management strategy using big data to help clinicians better engage and manage health outcomes for patients outside the hospital setting.
Cerner associates will join a team at Sharp's headquarters to assist clinicians and IT staff as they execute the new strategy.