MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a prototype for a nationwide health-information network architecture.
This architecture will enable nationwide exchange of electronic health-care information among disparate systems, an important step in realizing President Bush's vision for an interoperable electronic health record for every American. The effort will proceed in conjunction with other recently awarded HHS contracts designed to establish standards harmonization, compliance certification, and privacy and security for the exchange of electronic health records. The culmination of these related activities will be a health information technology framework that promotes safer, more efficient, and higher-quality health care across the nation.
"Our demonstrated expertise with large-scale health information technology systems integration, health-information exchange, and electronic medical records will provide the federal government with an interoperable, self-sustaining, and cost-effective solution that will improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare in America," said Michele Kang, vice president and general manager of Health Solutions for Northrop Grumman's Information Technology sector.
Northrop Grumman will develop a non-proprietary, standards-based open architecture that will leverage and extend the functionality of existing local and regional health information networks, providing a common, scalable approach to national interoperability and information exchange. Northrop Grumman will develop the prototype architecture during a one-year contract that includes one option year. Work on the system will be done in Chantilly, Va. and Washington, D.C.
Northrop Grumman leads a consortium that includes the following technology teammates in the architecture-development effort: First Consulting Group, Long Beach, Calif.; Axolotl, Mountain View, Calif.; Emdeon, Elmwood Park, N.J.; Oracle, Redwood Shores, Calif.; Sun Microsystems (SeeBeyond Technology), Menlo Park, Calif.; CSSS.net, Bellevue, Neb.; and SphereCom Enterprises, Manassas, Va. Clinical partners include: University Hospital Health Systems; Cleveland Clinic Health System; and MetroHealth System, Cleveland; Greater Cincinnati HealthBridge, Cincinnati; Western Medical Associates, Santa Cruz County, Calif.; Waterbury Health Access Program, Waterbury, Conn.; Swedish Health System, Seattle; and Conemaugh Health System, Johnstown, Pa.
Northrop Grumman Information Technology, headquartered in McLean, Va., is a trusted IT leader and premier provider of advanced IT solutions, engineering and business services for government and commercial clients. The company's technological leadership spans such areas as homeland security solutions, health IT solutions, secure wireless, cyber and physical assurance, IT and network infrastructure, managed services, knowledge management, modeling and simulation and geospatial intelligence solutions.