OAHU, Hawaii & CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 26, 2005–Allscripts
Healthcare Solutions (Nasdaq:MDRX), the leading provider of clinical
software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use
to improve healthcare today announced that the Hawaii Medical Service
Association (HMSA), a Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate, is extending
its current three-year partnership with Allscripts for an additional
three years. The agreement will provide physicians throughout the
State of Hawaii funding and a pathway to the full TouchWorks
Electronic Health Record (EHR).
For the past three years, HMSA provided sponsorship for 600
physicians to use Allscripts electronic prescribing solution. Based on
the success of the agreement, HMSA decided to renew and expand the
scope of the contract. HMSA will continue to fund the software
application and necessary hardware upgrades to the original
participating physicians, while at the same time extend the full
Electronic Health Record solution to hundreds of additional physicians
throughout Hawaii.
“Since the adoption of electronic prescribing, physicians have
better adherence to formulary and reduced the number of call backs
from pharmacists due to illegible handwriting and potentially harmful
drug interactions,” said John Berthuiame, Vice President and Medical
Director of Hawaii Medical Service Association. “Now that physicians
have seen the value of technology with electronic prescribing, a large
number of physicians are excited about moving down the path to a full
Electronic Health Record. Fortunately, Allscripts provides a solution
to meet their needs, given the modular product design, and the
physicians have confidence in their ability to deliver a user
friendly, reliable application.”
Through the term of the agreement, participating physicians will
be able to select the specific TouchWorks Electronic Health Record
modules that best suit their practices needs as they gradually move
towards a full EHR.
The initial Allscripts partnership has helped the Association
increase physician office efficiencies and provide a seamless transfer
of patient medication information. As physicians roll out the
Electronic Health Record, the Hawaii Medical Service Association
expects to experience an increase in the quality of care to patients
that will prove to be beneficial to the physician-patient relationship
and to the insurers as the EHR helps reduce medical and prescription
errors.
“As the largest health insurer in the State of Hawaii, the Hawaii
Medical Service Association is dedicated to continuing its leadership
role in providing access to premium health care,” said Glen Tullman,
Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. “This is a great example of our
ability to deliver. We demonstrated the value of e-Prescribing for
hundreds of physicians and this has enabled us to partner with HMSA in
taking this deployment to the next level.”
About Hawaii Medical Service Association
Founded in 1938, the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA)
serves as a non-profit, mutual benefit society. HMSA is the largest
and most experienced provider of health care coverage in the state and
is dedicated to helping control Hawaii’s health care costs by
providing quality, affordable health plans and benefit services. HMSA
is a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association
of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.
About Allscripts
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (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 Groups award-winning clinical software applications include
Electronic Health Record (EHR), e-prescribing and document imaging
solutions. Allscripts Physicians Interactive Group provides clinical
product education and connectivity solutions for physicians and
patients. The Companys 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.
CONTACT: Allscripts
Dan Michelson, 312-506-1217
dan.michelson@allscripts.com
or
Hawaii Medical Service Association
Cliff Cisco, 808-948-5481
cliff_cisco@hmsa.com
SOURCE: Allscripts Healthcare Solutions