CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 30, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Premier, Inc. (Nasdaq: PINC ) has named Bimal R. Shah, MD, MBA, vice president of Premier Research Services .
Dr. Shah, a practicing non-invasive cardiologist with vast experience in clinical research and hospital operations, will provide strategic, clinical, analytical and research support to Premier Research Services. Premier Research Services combines deep data, analytical expertise and relationships with 60 percent of the hospitals in the U.S., as well as biopharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, to identify innovative ways to improve patient care and safely reduce costs.
"Dr. Shah is a national thought leader who has more than 20 years of experience using large databases to conduct retrospective and observational analyses," said Michael J. Alkire, chief operating officer at Premier. "He also brings expertise as both a practicing physician and a quality improvement leader at a top academic health system. We are thrilled to have him on board to lead Premier's data-driven research and analytical efforts in transforming healthcare."
Dr. Shah is a recipient of the Jeremiah Stamler Distinguished Young Investigator Research Award for representing excellence, commitment and promise in the field of cardiovascular research. He serves on several review boards for prominent clinical publications and has published and presented his research in national and international settings. Dr. Shah has extensive experience in research using administrative claims data from a variety of sources.
In his most recent role, Dr. Shah served as the Quality Improvement Director for the Department of Medicine at the Duke Clinical Research Institute and the Duke Heart Center. He oversaw credentialing and quality improvement initiatives for nearly 700 physicians. Dr. Shah also helped lead the implementation of electronic health records and meaningful use, was responsible for care redesign efforts around bundled payments and readmissions, and led clinical quality and process improvement programs throughout the institution.
"I am excited to be working with Premier's employees, members and partners in leveraging data-driven, evidence-based research to innovate and improve the cost, quality and safety of America's healthcare," said Dr. Shah.
Dr. Shah received his medical school training at Duke University, where he also earned a Master's in Business Administration. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Stanford Hospitals and Clinics, and his general Cardiology fellowship at Duke University.
About Premier, Inc.
Premier, Inc. (Nasdaq: PINC ) is a leading healthcare improvement company, uniting an alliance of approximately 3,000 U.S. hospitals and 110,000 other providers to transform healthcare. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, and advisory and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost. Premier, a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient, plays a critical role in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry, collaborating with members to co-develop long-term innovations that reinvent and improve the way care is delivered to patients nationwide. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier is passionate about transforming American healthcare. Please visit Premier's news and investor sites on www.premierinc.com ; as well as Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , YouTube , Instagram , Foursquare and Premier's blog for more information about the company.
Morgan Bridges-Guthrie Premier, Inc. 704.816.4152
