IBA's Lorenzo nabs first customer

By: Karen Dearne

MACQUARIE University Private Hospital in Sydney is set to become Australia's first user of Lorenzo, IBA Health Group's next-generation platform, in a $7.6 million deal for advanced healthcare applications to be installed at the high-tech hospital due to open next year.

A $140 million joint venture between Macquarie and Dalcross Private Hospital is funding the construction of a 180-230 bed facility in the university's research precinct, with the aim of providing high quality patient care as well as opportunities for post-graduate medical training and health research.

IBA will supply its Lorenzo Acute Care suite of clinical, administrative and financial applications across the hospital and specialist clinics. The package includes full electronic medical record functionality, and will link to new systems for radiology and pathology.

Dalcross chief executive Carl Adams said the investment would allow management of the new facility "with a confidence that the essential administrative and clinical requirements can be achieved immediately, while ensuring a pathway to the next-generation" of health information systems.

"As an early adopter, we aim to play an active role in the development program and, with other users, help shape the future of healthcare IT," Mr Adams said.

IBA chief executive Gary Cohen said the contract marked a milestone that would help drive sales of Lorenzo in the region.

"With Lorenzo, everyone has the opportunity to play an active role in the delivery of care," Mr Cohen said. "It breaks down barriers to critical clinical information, helping health professionals to make faster informed decisions.

"There is a revolution in healthcare in which Lorenzo will have a central role."

Macquarie University Private Hospital will also be the first Australian hospital to install iSoft Financials, an integrated suite of web-based financial and purchasing products called Integra.

Yesterday, IBA claimed the title of the nation's leading health software company with revenues of $361 million, up 381 per cent from $75 million in 2007.

IBA registered a net profit of $49 million, up 113 per cent, after completing the takeover of its former rival, iSoft, in October last year. However, the profit result included $35 million in acquisition, integration and other one-off costs.

IBA expects Lorenzo - built on Microsoft's .NET platform - to set a new global standard for healthcare IT.