Alberta's Capital Health taps Upside solution to increase transparency, accountability
Edmonton, Alberta — December 17, 2003 — Canadian health care manager Capital Health is set to use a new contract management system (CMS) from Upside Software in an effort to increase transparency and accountability, and to make it easier for businesses to work with the care manager.
Capital Health is one of Canada's largest integrated academic health regions, providing health services to 1.6 million people across central and northern Alberta. It is the first health region in Alberta to go to a centralized contract management system. Currently the region purchases more than $200 million in healthcare business services.
Under the agreement, Capital Health will use Upside Software's technology to implement a centralized automated management system for all contracts that the health region has in place. By having a centralized system that allows movement of documents and tasks electronically, the health region is looking for contracts to be completed significantly faster.
"What this means is that we will be able to do a more streamlined and efficient job in managing contracts between Capital Health and our suppliers, which will speed up paperwork, reduce duplication and enhance monitoring of contract performance, [and] this translates into cost savings," said Wendy Hill, chief operating officer for Capital Health Regional Support Services.
Hill noted that the new CMS will work well with Biz Worx, the call center established to act as a single point of entry for suppliers doing business with the health region. "This is another step in improving access for suppliers through an integrated CMS, thereby making Capital Health more business friendly," Hill said.
Upside Software was selected from a competition that attracted bidders from Canada and the United States. Upside has offered similar electronic systems to major multinationals in Canada and the United States.
"Upside Software was chosen from a list of quality submissions and clearly met the requirements of this project," said Sheila Weatherill, Capital Health president and CEO. "We're pleased we are able to support a local company that is proving it can compete around the world right here from Edmonton."
Capital Health's new centralized contract management system will be in place in 2004.
