INHS lands contract to link Los Angeles-area hospitals

Inland Northwest Health Services is creating a computer information network that will link medical and financial records for four hospitals in the Los Angeles area.

Michael Smyly, chief business development officer of the Spokane-based nonprofit, declined to give a dollar figure for the new agreement but said it will result in INHS hiring about 20 new computer analysts.

“It’s a significant contract,” Smyly added.

The system is similar to one that INHS designed for local hospitals, including Sacred Heart and Deaconess medical centers.

When it’s implemented, the network will allow about 1,000 physicians and nurses to instantly access hospital records for patients being treated at Providence Health & Services of California. The electronic data will give healthcare providers the latest in lab results, prescription changes and other crucial patient information — thus reducing the possibility of medical-related errors.

It will also join the hospitals with others owned by Providence including Holy Family Hospital and Sacred Heart Medical Center, Smyly said.

The system also lays the groundwork for linking the California hospitals with a broader network within their region.

When the system is in place, Smyly said it will enhance quality control for Providence hospitals because the standards will be the same for all medical facilities.

Providence is a major sponsor of INHS, which is a nonprofit collaboration between area hospitals, so the contract is mutually beneficial, he said.