CHICAGO & GAINESVILLE, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2006--
TouchWorks(TM) Electronic Health Record to Connect Regional Physician
Community
Allscripts (Nasdaq:MDRX), the leading provider of clinical
software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use
to improve healthcare, announced today that Northeast Georgia Medical
Center and Health System has selected the TouchWorks(TM) Electronic
Health Record to connect and automate its network of primary care
physicians.
The Allscripts electronic health record will enable Northeast
Georgia’s 35 physicians to have instant access to clinical records
from any of the group’s 17 practice locations, the hospital or
remotely, and provide a seamless connection to the other
administrative and clinical systems in use by the network.
“Our partnership with Allscripts will help us to share clinical
information across our entire community of physicians to enhance the
quality of care we provide,” said Richard Tanzella, Executive Director
of the Gainesville-based health system, which serves nearly 700,000
patients in 15 counties. “The electronic health record will give our
physicians real-time access to patient information, without having to
shuttle paper charts back and forth between centers. It’s simply the
best way to treat patients and manage their care across multiple
locations.”
The web-based electronic health record solution will enable
Northeast Georgia’s physicians to automate many of their daily
clinical tasks, such as prescribing medications, ordering lab tests,
viewing test results, making referrals electronically and documenting
clinical encounters. Given their confidence in the success of their
new system, Northeast Georgia built its newest clinic without a
medical chart room and will soon open as a paperless facility.
Northeast Georgia plans to offer the electronic health record to
unaffiliated specialty physician groups through its Management
Services Organization, which provides practice management,
administrative, and support services to Northeast Georgia’s group
practices. “We see this as a unique opportunity to share data across
multiple non-affiliated groups for the same patient, with a focus on
providing the best patient care regardless of where they are seen,”
said Tanzella. “That’s our long-term goal and we believe that
Allscripts will help get us there.”
Northeast Georgia conducted an extensive one-year evaluation of
electronic health record vendors with guidance from the Georgia
Medical Care Foundation and ultimately selected Allscripts for its
industry leadership. Tanzella said Northeast Georgia also was
impressed by Allscripts ability to provide standardized
interoperability with the group’s existing IDX(R) Groupcast(TM)
practice management system. Allscripts and IDX, now a part of GE
Healthcare, share a strategic relationship that will directly link
clinical and financial information systems to support process redesign
and operational enhancements at Northeast Georgia Health System.
“The electronic health record has quickly become mission-critical
to the delivery of healthcare,” commented Glen Tullman, Chief
Executive Officer of Allscripts. “We are excited to partner with
Northeast Georgia Health System as they begin the implementation of
the Allscripts electronic health record and we applaud the leadership
role they have taken to extend electronic connectivity across
Northeast Georgia’s medical group practices.”
About Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Health System
Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Health System (NGHS) is a
not-for-profit community health system dedicated to improving the
health and quality of life of the people of Northeast Georgia. NGHS
offers a full range of healthcare services through two inpatient
hospitals, a 17-center primary care network and a skilled nursing
facility, serving nearly 700,000 people in more than 15 counties
across Northeast Georgia. Extending the health system’s reach into the
communities it serves are outlying facilities including primary care
offices, outpatient rehabilitation centers offering physical,
occupational and speech therapy, and a satellite cancer treatment
center as well as in-home services such as hospice and Lifeline, a
personal emergency response system. In 2001, NGHS celebrated its 50th
year of serving northeast Georgia.
About Allscripts
Allscripts is the leading provider of clinical software,
connectivity and information solutions that physicians use to improve
healthcare. The Company’s business groups provide unique solutions
that inform, connect and transform healthcare. The Clinical Solutions
Group’s award-winning software applications include electronic health
record, practice management, e-prescribing, document imaging,
emergency department and care management solutions. Additionally,
Allscripts provides clinical product education and connectivity
solutions for physicians and patients through its Physicians
Interactive(TM) Group and medication fulfillment services through its
Medication Services Group. 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 2005
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
NGHS
Richard Tanzella, 770-531-6225
richard.tanzella@nghs.com
SOURCE: Allscripts