CHICAGO & SAN FRANCISCO, Sep 08, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Allscripts (Nasdaq:MDRX), the leading provider of
clinical software, connectivity and information solutions that
physicians use to improve healthcare and Medem, the nation’s premier
physician-patient communication network, founded by leading U.S.
medical societies, today announced that they will provide free
electronic prescribing and interactive personal health records to aid
in the care of the hundreds of thousands of individuals displaced by
Hurricane Katrina.
Physicians will use the electronic prescribing software to write
prescriptions and speed delivery of medications to those in need. The
portable iHealth personal health records have already begun to allow
individuals and care providers to rebuild medical histories and record
treatments that are being delivered from a variety of clinicians at
different locations now and over the next several months. This
information will then be available to the patients through secure
access over the Internet, anytime, anywhere in the United States where
they may relocate. It will also be available, with their permission,
to emergency and other caregivers.
Volunteers, including medical students from Texas A&M, have begun
working with caregivers, patients and their families to create iHealth
personal health records for families in Texas shelters.
“These folks have immediate and critical needs for care that can
be better delivered, and better documented, using healthcare
technology. We are documenting important vaccinations and recording
medical histories that all subsequent care providers will need,”
stated Nancy Dickey, M.D., President of The Texas A&M University
System Health Science System and former President of the American
Medical Association. “This is also a unique opportunity to create
portable and Internet-based personal health records for these
patients, that will provide continuity of care going forward–all the
more important as some families relocate several times in the coming
months and years.”
Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts, explained
that immediate action was necessary, given the magnitude of the
crisis. “Many of our physician clients who were directly impacted or
who have joined the effort to help have made us acutely aware of the
need for electronic prescriptions to speed medication delivery and
management, while preventing drug interactions, and technology to keep
track of patients and their treatments. In addition to the individual
efforts of our employees, and our company’s matching financial
contributions, we’re pleased that our software products can also make
a difference.”
“The iHealthRecord from Medem will house critical personal health
data for use by physicians or emergency departments, including current
medical conditions, medications, recent vaccinations, past surgeries
and allergies, as well as electronically connecting patients more
closely with their clinics and providers,” Ed Fotsch, Chief Executive
Officer of Medem, commented. “Portable, personal health records have
never been more necessary or important. While these records are
essential to all Americans, they are of particular value to patients,
families, and clinicians when care is provided in multiple locations,
and for a population that is challenged with intense stress and
multiple relocations. iHealthRecords are now available for all Katrina
victims, their families, and their clinicians at
www.katrinaihealth.medem.com.”
Allscripts indicated that, along with its partners and Medem, it
will be cooperating with efforts being coordinated by David Brailer,
MD, Ph.D., National Coordinator for Health Information Technology for
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as other
industry efforts. More information can be found on the Allscripts
website, www.allscripts.com.
About Medem
Together with leading healthcare partners, Medem has created the
nation’s premier physician-patient communications network, designed to
facilitate online access to information and care for physicians, their
practices and their patients. Medem has established the nation’s first
secure, interactive online personal health record, the iHealthRecord,
to help every American take control of their health as well as the
health of parents, children, families, and other loved ones. The
iHealthRecord, and all iHealth Services are accessible through Medem
physician web sites as well as www.ihealthrecord.org. This provides
online access to critical health data for all patients, physicians,
and caregivers, that will improve the quality of care, advance
medication adherence, patient safety and disease management, and
reduce liability and costs. Other iHealthRecord services include
HIPAA-compliant Secure Messaging and Online Consultation.
Based in San Francisco, Medem incorporated in 1999 and was founded
by a group of the nation’s leading medical societies, including: the
American Academy of Ophthalmology; the American Academy of Pediatrics;
the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; the American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; the American Medical
Association; the American Psychiatric Association; and the American
Society of Plastic Surgeons. There are currently 48 societies
partnering with Medem whose combined membership represents more than
two-thirds of physicians currently practicing in the United States.
Visit Medem on the Web at http://www.medem.com/.
About Allscripts
Allscripts is the leading provider of clinical software,
connectivity and information solutions that physicians use to improve
healthcare. The Company provides unique solutions that inform,
connect, and transform healthcare. The Clinical Solutions Group’s
award-winning clinical software applications include Electronic Health
Record, e-prescribing and document imaging solutions. Allscripts’
Physicians Interactive Group provides clinical product education and
connectivity solutions for physicians and patients. The Company’s
Medication Services Group provides medication fulfillment services. To
learn more, visit Allscripts 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 2004
Annual Report on Form 10-K, available through the Web site maintained
by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
SOURCE: Allscripts
Allscripts Lisa Johnson, 312-506-1250 lisa.johnson@allscripts.com or Medem Jason Best, 415-644-3909 jason.best@medem.com