Community Technologies is entering a new, exciting frontier. Nor-Lea Hospital District, a critical access hospital located in Lovington, New Mexico (in the southeast corner of the state), has signed an agreement to provision both Epic Connect (electronic medical record) and Tech Connect for picture archiving and communication system (PACs).
This marks the first Community Technologies partner in the Texas and New Mexico region, preceding Covenant Health transitioning onto Epic in 2021. It’s a positive, pioneering venture for PSJH and our broader IS family.
Nor-Lea Hospital District has had a long-standing relationship with Covenant Health, located in our Providence St. Joseph Health Texas/New Mexico region centered around Lubbock. These organizations are about 110 miles apart. Covenant Health, as we know it today, formed in 1998, as the product of a merger of two longstanding west Texas healthcare organizations, St. Mary Hospital (now known as Covenant Medical Center, Lakeside) and Methodist Hospital (now known as Covenant Medical Center, Lubbock).
Nor-Lea Hospital District and Covenant Health partner on patient care, with particular emphasis on pediatric and adolescent health, as well as oncology and cardiac programs. Nor-Lea Hospital District has its own lab and operates as a reference lab to numerous clinics in Lea County and surrounding counties in Southeastern, New Mexico. The hospital district also sends a substantial number of lab tests to Covenant Health lab in Lubbock, Texas.
Dan Hamilton, Chief Operating Officer at Nor-Lea Hospital District, said, “This transition to Epic is paramount to our rural, independent hospital district. Our patients have spoken and given a clear standard of the health care they wish to receive. We confidently believe Epic Connect and Tech Connect will provide those solutions. Our mission at Nor-Lea is to provide an exceptional experience and it is our vision to enhance lives. This transition is just proof of our commitment to both.”
Larry Martinelli, PSJH Chief Medical Informatics Officer for Texas and New Mexico, shared, “The adoption of Epic Connect by Nor-Lea Hospital District will further strengthen its strong partnership with Covenant Health and Providence St. Joseph Health. This will ultimately lead to more seamless and complete care for patients in our region.”
Nor-Lea Hospital District is a not-for-profit, community-based healthcare organization that owns and operates Nor-Lea Medical Clinics; Nor-Lea Professional Physicians Center; Nor-Lea Cancer Center; Nor-Lea Home Medical and Nor-Lea General Hospital, a 25 bed Medicare-certified facility. Nor-Lea Hospital District currently employs more than 450 full-time and part-time individuals to meet the needs of healthcare in their community.
The hospital will be on the ORCA (Oregon/California) instance of Epic. Their go-live on Epic will take place August, 1, 2020.
Congratulations to the Community Technologies program for leading the way!