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How Near Real-Time Laboratory Data is Closing Critical Healthcare Gaps in Arizona

Tuesday, October 23, 2018   |   Category: Press Releases

Sonora Quest Laboratories Launches AIM™ Solution to Improve Patient Outcomes

TEMPE, Ariz. (Oct. 23, 2018) – Sonora Quest Laboratories, Arizona’s leading provider of diagnostic testing and information services, has released a new technology based analytics product called Actionable Insights Management™ (AIM). AIM is a software-based solution that provides near real-time data and insights to identify risks within patient populations; close gaps in healthcare; and track individual patients facing chronic conditions including diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

“AIM leverages patient-centric information and the application of clinical guidelines to transform data into useful and actionable intelligence,” said Sonny Varadan, Chief Information Officer with Sonora Quest. “The AIM solution provides a revolutionary way for providers to improve patient outcomes.”

Sonora Quest partnered with Commonwealth Accountable Care Organization to generate actionable patient data featured in their newly published whitepaper to improve communications with providers and deliver a data-focused care model. The white paper reveals the powerful functions of AIM analytics and how it assists with improving collaboration and outcomes in healthcare.

Highlights of the AIM solution include providing near real-time data, which enables timely and efficient decision-making to take place for patient populations. AIM also provides risk assessment, utilizing algorithms and clinical guidelines, from the American Diabetes Association and others, to provide insight into patients undiagnosed or at-risk for chronic conditions.

Large quantities of patient data are analyzed using an algorithmic process across disparate systems allowing Sonora Quest to create and support a longitudinal health record for each patient. This information was critically important to Commonwealth because data can be aggregated regardless of ordering provider or the payer being billed. AIM located an average of 41 percent of additional orders generated by non-Commonwealth providers. In addition, AIM was able to identify data elements for quality measure consideration, laboratory testing base indicators for additional clinical assessment among Commonwealth patients, and benchmarking by provider to measure performance by disease state.

“The use of AIM greatly improved our coordinated care efforts and improved patient outcomes throughout Arizona,” said Lance Donkerbrook, Chief Information Officer with Commonwealth. “Not only did AIM provide much more immediate and actionable data compared to past reporting through claims and disparate EMR reports, but we found additional information, such as related diagnosis, and insight to supplementary provider care that we hadn’t expected to uncover from this data.”

Other uses for AIM include comprehensive historical results for patients, producing complete laboratory result history. Chronic disease management is available with dashboards that provide tailored insights for chronic conditions including diabetes, chronic kidney disease or prescription drug monitoring. Analytics consultation is provided to help clients determine the best solutions to meet their population health goals. Quality measures impact provides data in an easy-to-use, customizable format designed to meet quality measures or close gaps in care.

To learn more about AIM, visit https://www.sonoraquest.com/aim.

About Sonora Quest Laboratories
Sonora Quest Laboratories, a joint venture between Banner Health and Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), is part of the nation's largest integrated laboratory system with approximately 3,100 employees serving more than 21,000 patients every day throughout Arizona. Sonora Quest Laboratories is the market share leader in clinical laboratory testing in Arizona, performing more than 60 million diagnostic tests per year. Sonora Quest Laboratories offers a local comprehensive test menu which encompasses routine, molecular, prescription drug monitoring, genetic/genomic, women’s health, and pathology testing services. Ninety-eight percent of all testing is performed at our primary testing facilities located in Tempe, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott and Yuma. Sonora Quest Laboratories is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) which is the gold standard in laboratory accreditation, helping laboratories to maintain accuracy of test results and ensure accurate patient diagnosis. This accreditation ensures the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients as CAP inspectors examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and records, and overall management.

About Commonwealth Primary Care ACO
Commonwealth Primary Care ACO (CPCACO), is a primary-care founded, governed, owned and operated Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACO. Their provider base consists of over 130 Primary Care Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. CPCACO has over 15,000 assigned MSSP beneficiaries and an additional 30,000 members in Commercial and Medicaid ACO programs. Commonwealth Primary Care ACO operates throughout the state of Arizona, with many of their physicians in the Phoenix metropolitan area. CPCACO has demonstrated success in their ACO programs by improving cost and quality metrics and strives to be an organization that supports the success of independent primary care. www.commonwealthaco.com