The Reporter: Oct 1994, Vol.5, No.3
CAT Evoles Into Health Care Arena

An innovative computerized medical data management system is a project of the newly certified New York State Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) in High Performance Computing and Communications in Health Care. CAT is a partnership of Columbia and the state aimed at generating new business development in the rapidly evolving health information management field.

The computerized medical data management system, the Clinical Information System (CIS), is a project of Columbia and New York-based IBM and is attracting potential buyers from across the country.

The New York State Science and Technology Foundation has committed $1 million to Columbia in 1994-95 to collaborate with industry on the production of high performance information systems for the health care marketplace. This is a new programmatic focus of Columbia's CAT, which has existed since 1983. The CAT in High Performance Computing and Communications in Health Care represents a stronger focus of the center's original research mission in computers and information systems.

"New York State is assisting Columbia University and other universities and businesses to develop high-technology products because a strong high-tech sector is vital for our economic prosperity," says New York State Gov. Mario Cuomo. "The 13 Centers of Advanced Technology we have created at some of New York's finest universities since 1983 will help us build on our achievements to become the high- tech capital of the world, creating well-paid jobs for today's New Yorkers and for our children and grandchildren."

The Columbia/IBM system is the first step in eliminating the paper-based medical record. The system is currently in use throughout CPMC and is being marketed by IBM through demonstrations at the medical center.

Restructuring the way medicine is practiced will depend heavily on information-based technology like CIS. Columbia's CAT will collaborate with commercial partners to develop products to improve the quality of care and provide more efficient health care delivery by reducing administrative paperwork, enhancing speed of patient information input, increasing automation in the delivery of health care, and establishing linkages to nationwide information resources and expertise.

Seven businesses that have become commercial partners with Columbia have provided $1 million in state-required matching funds: IBM in White Plains, LaPook Lear Systems in New York City, American Healthware in Brooklyn, Strategic Marketing Information on Long Island, Phillips Laboratory in Ossining, Bell Atlantic in Greenbrae, Calif., and Sunquest of Tucson, Ariz. CAT requires 60 percent of the matching funds to come from businesses in New York State.

"In 1992 New York state firms garnered only 1 percent of the total $2.5 billion generated by health care software vendors," says Dr. Paul D. Clayton, director of Columbia's CAT and director of the P&S Center for Medical Informatics. "It is our goal to double New York's share of this revenue in five years and to double it again in 10 years." Accomplishment of the CAT's goals would create annual incremental revenue for New York firms of $214 million and 1,001 jobs within 10 years.

The CAT will be under the direction of Dr. Clayton and Dr. Zvi Galil, associate director. Dr. Galil is chairman of computer science at the Columbia's School of Engineering and Applied Science.

"The applications of computing and communication technology to health care represent a critically important need and a timely opportunity to utilize the unique capabilities of Columbia University," says Vincent Tese, New York State Commissioner for Economic Development.