First LTPAC clinical care exchange set to launch

The new company will focus on creating a Clinical Care Exchange, "a platform combining a native EHR (electronic health record) with powerful integration tools for connectivity across the healthcare continuum," noted a press release announcing the merger.

Based on an open market philosophy, the new Clinical Care Exchange will be able to connect EHRs and ancillary systems, including pharmacy and laboratory information systems to LTPAC, senior living, behavioral health organizations and health information exchanges (HIEs) across the country.

Tom Bang, current CEO of BlueStep Systems, will head the new company, whose new name and logo will be announced within the next few months. The company will maintain offices in Salt Lake City and Jacksonville, Florida.

"The merger of BridgeGate and BlueStep joins our two companies with a shared vision, that health information technology should facilitate, not dictate, the quality of our loved ones’ care," said Bang. “We believe open connectivity and collaboration—which includes enabling the competitive products our customers’ choose—is a basic requirement to ensure the highest levels of care.”