CHICAGO, Apr 29, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Allscripts Healthcare
Solutions (Nasdaq:MDRX), the leading provider of clinical software,
connectivity and information solutions for physicians, announced today
that it has signed an agreement with Microsoft Corporation for the
electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) initiative sponsored by
WellPoint Health Networks Inc. TouchScript(TM), the nation’s leading
e-prescribing application from Allscripts, will be available at no
charge for 12 months to nearly 19,000 physicians in WellPoint’s
physician networks in California, Georgia, Missouri and Wisconsin.
WellPoint is also offering a substantial discount to the remainder of
its network physicians. Additionally, Allscripts signed an agreement
with WellPoint to integrate WellPoint’s formulary, eligibility, and
medication history information directly into the Allscripts
e-prescribing solution.
The TouchScript e-prescribing solution will be used by physicians
on Dell Axim X3i Windows(TM) mobile-based Pocket PC devices connected
directly to the Internet via Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points. In
addition to using the solution on Pocket PCs, physicians and their
staff will be able to access the TouchScript solution via a browser
from any PC in their practice and even remotely from their home,
enabling selected WellPoint network physicians to access patient
medication history and write prescriptions anytime and anywhere.
“We believe this initiative will accelerate the growing momentum
in the industry for e-prescribing, an application which serves as the
first important step for physicians towards an electronic medical
record,” stated Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts
Healthcare Solutions. “WellPoint has demonstrated real leadership
which can result in safer care for their members and more efficient
operations for physicians.”
Microsoft’s Healthcare and Life Sciences group, acting as
WellPoint’s technology consultant, was responsible for establishing
the hardware and software standards and selecting vendors for the
program. They worked closely with Capgemini, one of the world’s
largest providers of consulting and technology, consulting, technology
and outsourcing services, who is managing the overall project for
WellPoint.
“This project is a major leap for clinical automation in
healthcare, nearly doubling the number of physicians who use an
e-prescribing application,” said Steve Shihadeh, General Manager of
Microsoft’s Health Care and Life Sciences Group. “Allscripts’ leading
e-prescribing solution, based on proven, easy-to-use Microsoft
technology, will contribute to the success of this initiative and to
improved efficiency and productivity across the healthcare industry.”
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions is a Microsoft healthcare go-to-market
partner and charter member of Microsoft’s Mobility Partner Advisory
Council (MPAC).
“Since they launched the first handheld e-prescribing tool for
physicians in 1999, Allscripts has been a leader in the e-prescribing
space and brings a great deal of credibility to this initiative,” said
Don Gravlin, Alliance Manager at Capgemini. “We believe that industry
leaders like Allscripts, Cisco, Dell, Microsoft, and WellPoint will
bring e-prescribing and other technology applications into the
mainstream of healthcare.”
Many experts in the health care technology field believe that
e-prescribing can significantly reduce the estimated 7,000 deaths per
year due to medication errors, first reported by the Institute of
Medicine in 1999. Efforts are underway from many stakeholders
nationally to leverage the potential of e-prescribing. Mark B.
McClellan, MD, PhD, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, recently stated that increasing the adoption of
electronic medical records and electronic prescribing is one of his
top priorities.
Janet Marchibroda, Chief Executive Officer of the eHealth
Initiative (eHI), a Washington D.C.-based non-profit organization
whose mission is to improve healthcare through information, sees this
as an important step forward. “This kind of technology sponsorship is
key to improving healthcare and driving adoption of tools that we know
will benefit all Americans.” The eHI committee recently released a
report on electronic prescribing and identified $29 billion of
healthcare systems savings through adoption of this technology.
“Seeing an important member of the eHealth Initiative like Allscripts
involved helps raise visibility of the valuable work this committee is
doing.” The eHI report promotes private sector involvement in
improving our national healthcare system. “This should serve as
encouragement to other forward-thinking healthcare management
companies to actively promote these tools as a new standard of care.”
TouchScript from Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, the industry’s
trusted and leading solution, is the most widely used e-prescribing
solution in the United States today. Thousands of physicians have
written millions of prescriptions using TouchScript. The software
enables physicians to quickly generate and send prescriptions from the
exam room directly to the pharmacy using a wireless Pocket PC device.
With a touch of the screen, TouchScript physicians have instant access
to dosing information and insurance formulary status as well as an
automatic check for possible drug interactions, prior adverse
reactions, and allergies, thus adding a measure of patient safety to
each prescription. Physicians prescribe safely and securely while
moving freely from room to room and patient to patient. Phone calls to
and from pharmacies are reduced or eliminated. Additionally,
TouchScript provides a first step on the pathway to the award-winning
TouchWorks(TM) electronic medical record (EMR) from Allscripts
Healthcare Solutions.
“In the seven years that I’ve used TouchScript, the e-prescribing
software has had a very positive impact on the safety and satisfaction
of my patients,” commented Azar Korby, MD, a family practice physician
in Salem, New Hampshire, and current user of the TouchScript
e-prescribing solution. “This technology instills confidence in my
patients and helps me make the best decisions for their care.”
About Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (AHS) is the leading provider of
clinical software, connectivity and information solutions for
physicians. The Company’s TouchWorks(TM) software is a modular
Electronic Medical Record (EMR) that enhances physician productivity
by automating the most common physician activities including
prescribing, dictating, capturing charges, ordering labs and viewing
results, providing patient education, and documenting clinical
encounters. TouchWorks is available on the latest Tablet PCs, wireless
handheld devices, desktop workstations and over the Internet. AHS also
offers electronic document imaging and scanning solutions through its
Advanced Imaging Concepts subsidiary. Additionally, AHS provides
healthcare product education and market research programs for
physicians through its Physicians Interactive(TM) unit and medication
fulfillment services through its Allscripts Direct(TM) unit. Visit AHS
on the Web at www.allscripts.com.
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements about
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions that involve risks and uncertainties.
These statements are developed by combining currently available
information with Allscripts beliefs and assumptions. Forward-looking
statements do not guarantee future performance. Because Allscripts
cannot predict all of the risks and uncertainties that may affect it,
or control the ones it does predict, Allscripts’ actual results may be
materially different from the results expressed in its forward-looking
statements. For a more complete discussion of the risks, uncertainties
and assumptions that may affect Allscripts see the Company’s 2003
Annual Report on Form 10-K, available through the Web site maintained
by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
SOURCE: Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Dan Michelson, 847-680-3515, Ext. 4330 dan.michelson@allscripts.com or Paul Peterson, 847-680-3515, Ext. 4475 paul.peterson@allscripts.com
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