National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Discusses Electronic Health Record Strategy with Leaders from Across the Nation
WASHINGTON, Dec 16, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Dr. David Brailer, National Coordinator for Health Information
Technology, Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, and Janet
Marchibroda, Chief Executive Officer of the eHealth Initiative spoke
to an audience of more than 70 senior healthcare executives and
physician leaders at the Clinical Computing Executive Summit hosted by
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (NASDAQ:MDRX). The Summit brought
together leading medical groups from across the country to discuss
strategies in accelerating the adoption of electronic health records.
Recently, Washington, DC has been the center of a great deal of
activity concerning electronic health records (EHR) adoption.
Beginning with the State of the Union Address on January 20, 2004,
wherein President Bush identified EHRs as a critical component of
addressing the challenges in the healthcare delivery system, his
subsequent appointment of Dr. Brailer to the position of National
Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and the release of the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Strategic Framework for
Action (www.hhs.gov/healthit), the level of activity in Washington,
DC is serving as an important catalyst in accelerating the adoption
of EHRs.
In a town hall setting, Dr. Brailer spoke with medical directors
and CEOs from many of the nation’s leading medical groups on barriers
to EHR adoption, the need for interoperability and ways in which the
government can help remove legal barriers to foster regional data
sharing and ultimately accelerate demand in the market for clinical
use of EHRs to increase quality and reduce healthcare costs.
An audio recording of Dr. Brailer’s presentation is available at
https://www.allscripts.com/_htm/content/nws_DrBrailer.asp.
“Allscripts has taken a leadership role and is driving many of the
national initiatives that are driving electronic health record
adoption and improvement in the healthcare delivery system. We’re
proud to have an opportunity to bring together so many thoughtleaders
and foster dialogue to address the healthcare challenges we face as a
nation,” stated Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts
Healthcare Solutions. “Our goal with the Summit is to call more
attention to the key healthcare issues and highlight the software,
connectivity, and information solutions that are available today to
provide real answers to the challenges we face.”
Newt Gingrich outlined a vision for healthcare that is centered on
the individual, prevention focused, knowledge intense, and innovation
rich, with electronic health records playing a key role in driving
down cost and improving quality. Since retiring from Congress, Mr.
Gingrich has worked extensively on the issues of health and
healthcare, devoting the majority of his time to advocating a
transformation of the entire system that is detailed in his book,
Saving Lives & Saving Money. He recently founded The Center for Health
Transformation (www.healthtransformation.net), a unique collaboration
of public and private entities dedicated to accelerating the adoption
of transformational solutions, policies, and technologies to a 21st
Century Health and Healthcare System.
During the Summit, leading medical groups from across the country
including The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates,
Holston Medical Group, St. Joseph Heritage, and University of
Tennessee Medical Group presented case studies concerning best
practices for implementing electronic health record (EHR) software
solutions.
The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates (MFA),
located just eight blocks away from the White House co-hosted the
event. The MFA recently implemented more than 100 physicians on the
TouchWorks(TM) electronic health record solution from Allscripts in
only 30 days.
“Given our location in the heart of Washington, DC, the many
high-profile patients we treat, and the Bush Administration’s emphasis
on developing EHR systems, it was imperative that the MFA take a
leading role implementing a full electronic medical record and
demonstrating the benefits of this solution to the healthcare
industry,” said Stephen Badger, Chief Executive Officer for the MFA.
“The EHR solution from Allscripts enabled our physicians to enhance
the overall patient care provided while reducing administrative
burdens and the potential for medical errors. This technology plays a
critical role in helping our organization to be more efficient and
patient friendly, and we hope it will serve as a model for other
healthcare organizations across the nation.”
For more information concerning the Summit, please call
800-654-0889, ext. 200 or visit Allscripts at www.allscripts.com.
About Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (AHS) is the leading provider of
clinical software, connectivity and information solutions that
physicians use to improve healthcare. The Company’s TouchWorks
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 (AIC) 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