Charles Scatchard, President of International at Orion Health, said: "Turkey is seeing significant new investment occurring in healthcare and eHealth projects. The opening of our new Istanbul office in Europe's fastest growing economy and a regional hub is a natural next step for us as we look to establish a strong local team to expand our business in Turkey and the surrounding region. We understand the value of being able to support projects locally and believe our physical presence in Turkey sets us apart from many of our competitors."

Orion Health's Hospital Information System (HIS) has been selected against strong competition for two hospitals managed by the Koç Group. The HIS will be rolled out at the prestigious Koç University Hospital in 2014 and the Vehbi Koç Foundation American Hospital, a premium private health institution in Istanbul, the following year.

Orion Health HIS is an integrated hospital information system for healthcare organisations that require a full suite of tools for clinical tasks, hospital management and patient administration. It was selected due to its flexibility, ease of use and competitive price point.

Orion Health HIS will benefit the hospitals' patients by helping to improve care and coordination of treatment across the care continuum. One of the biggest technology challenges facing healthcare providers in Europe and around the globe is the process of sharing clinical information between electronic 'silos'. Orion Health's RhapsodyTM Integration Engine and Electronic Health Record (EHR) can be used to break down these silos and offer secure access to a single reliable and accurate patient record. Medical records can be called up almost instantaneously, saving time and money as well as enabling healthcare professionals to make better clinical decisions, improving care quality and outcomes.

Following the implementation of Orion Health HIS at the Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, patient waiting times have been reduced by 39 percent and the hospital has been able to increase its patient capacity from 1,500 patients per day to 4,000 patients per day. Orion Health believes similar results could soon be realised in the Turkish market as the country has the highest number of accredited hospitals in the world and as a result receives thousands of patients from across the globe every year.

Charles Scatchard said: "Orion Health is committed to designing a better healthcare future for everyone, everywhere. Our expanding presence in Turkey will enable hospitals to confidently invest in health IT solutions that are proven to help deliver better patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Our establishment of our new office in Istanbul reflects our belief in the market and the level of healthcare investment in Turkey."

Related news articles:

• Orion Health's Profile

About Orion Health
Orion Health is New Zealand's largest privately owned software exporter and a global leader in eHealth technology. Founded in 1993 by CEO Ian McCrae, Orion Health has grown from a specialist health integration vendor into a company that sells a comprehensive suite of eHealth solutions. Orion Health has extensive experience in the design and installation of complex systems within demanding healthcare environments. With an inherent ability to interconnect the wide variety of information systems found in health, Orion Health has risen to be considered a global leader in its industry. Today, its products and solutions are being used in more than 30 countries, by hundreds of thousands of clinicians, and are helping to improve healthcare for tens of millions of patients.