Electronic Health Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. and KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Children’s National Health System and information technology leader Cerner Corporation today announced the formation of The Bear Institute, a joint effort that will be the first exclusively pediatric health informatics institute in the nation.

The Bear Institute is a seven-year agreement that will advance evidence-based pediatric care delivery, research, and education through innovation in electronic health information technology (IT). We believe this is the only such institute devoted solely to IT innovation in pediatric care. The Institute will accelerate the development of fully-integrated electronic health records, accessible to care providers, patients and families, health care facilities, educators, and researchers within, and affiliated with, Children’s National. The Institute also will facilitate the rapid development of sophisticated health IT capabilities including: linking genomic profiles to decision support for personalized health care; matching patient information with a database of open clinical trials for research opportunities; and more nimble patient and family engagement with their health through secure web-enabled portals and mobile devices.

“If we are to achieve healthier societies, we will need innovation in two critical areas: Information Technology and the health and well-being of children. As information technology becomes more central to delivering world-class care, we see an opportunity to lead IT practice for children’s health,” said Kurt Newman, President and CEO, Children’s National. “We share this vision with Cerner, and that shared vision was the determining factor in the selection of Children’s National to be the partner for the Bear Institute. Together, we will serve as innovators for children and families.”

With the formation of The Bear Institute, Cerner and Children’s National will invest in innovative programming and product development. Successful developments will translate into intellectual property development and research.

“Cerner is thrilled to collaborate with Children’s National in creating the first pediatric health informatics institute. Their 140-year history of excellence in serving the health needs of children, commitment to research, and proven record of incorporating health information technology in care all make this a very compelling collaboration,” said Neal Patterson, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Cerner, recently ranked 7^th among Forbes’ Most Innovative Companies in America. “Children in the region, across the country, and around the world will benefit from the work of The Bear Institute.”

Children’s National brings to the Institute its existing and ongoing significant investment in digitizing health care delivery, as well as its national leadership among pediatric health care organizations in using the electronic health record system to benchmark and track quality and safety initiatives. Additionally, Children’s National has led the development of the Children’s IQ Network, a pediatric health information exchange for children, which provides the foundational information technology capability to realize an integrated health care delivery system reaching across the mid-Atlantic region.

“Imagine having all of the essential health information, robust workflow-integrated support for decisions, as well as patient-specific genomic information available at clinicians’ fingertips thereby allowing them to make well-informed prevention, diagnostic, and treatment decisions,” said Brian Jacobs, MD, Vice President, Chief Medical Information Officer, Chief Information Officer/Chief Medical Information Officer and Executive Director, Center for Pediatric Informatics and The Children’s IQ Network. “We are very close to making this an everyday reality. This collaboration will accelerate that momentum.”

The Bear Institute will amplify Cerner’s role with Children’s National, with the assumption of operational and administrative responsibilities for Children’s National information technology via its Cerner Millennium solutions and services, including remote hosting, monitoring and system performance capabilities, including data protection. Additionally, the current Children’s National IT team will become Bear Institute/Cerner associates, offering career development, training, and advancement within one of the nation’s health IT leaders.

About Children’s National Health System

Children’s National Health System, based in Washington, DC, has been serving the nation’s children since 1870. Children’s National’s hospital is Magnet® designated, and is consistently ranked among the top pediatric hospitals by U.S.News & World Report and the Leapfrog Group. Home to the Children’s Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National is one of the nation’s top NIH-funded pediatric institutions. With a community-based pediatric network, eight regional outpatient centers, an ambulatory surgery center, two emergency rooms, an acute care hospital, and collaborations throughout the region, Children’s National is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as an advocate for all children. For more information, visit ChildrensNational.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Cerner

Cerner is contributing to the systemic change of health and care delivery. For more than 30 years Cerner has been executing its vision to make health care safer and more efficient. We started with the foundation of digitizing paper processes and now offer the most comprehensive array of information software, professional services, medical device integration, remote hosting and employer health and wellness services. Cerner systems are used by everyone from individual consumers, to single-doctor practices, hospitals, employers and entire countries. Taking what we’ve learned over more than three decades, Cerner is building on the knowledge that is in the system to support evidence-based clinical decisions, prevent medical errors and empower patients in their care.