CHICAGO, Apr 24, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ —
Hawaii’s Largest Provider of Healthcare Coverage Concludes that TouchWorks Increases Generic Utilization, Formulary Compliance
Allscripts
Healthcare Solutions (Nasdaq: MDRX), the leading provider of point-of-care
decision support tools for physicians, announced today that the Hawaii Medical
Service Association (HMSA) concluded their pilot test of TouchWorks Rx+(TM)
e-prescribing application and entered into a multi-year agreement to provide
e-prescribing software for the 265 physicians already using the system as well
as additional providers. Over the next two months, HMSA will provide
TouchWorks(TM) to 80 more physicians and expand the program to over 500
physicians within the next 3 years. HMSA, an independent licensee of the Blue
Cross and Blue Shield Association, is Hawaii’s largest provider of health care
coverage with approximately 2,000 participating physician providers in their
network.
During an 18-month pilot, HMSA evaluated the ability of TouchWorks Rx+ to
generate measurable cost savings through appropriate use of generic medications
and increased formulary compliance. Physicians using TouchWorks Rx+ experienced
a 15% increase in generic utilization. E-prescribing also added convenience to
patients through electronic transmission of prescriptions to local pharmacies
that patients selected.
“Physicians experienced increased productivity using the TouchWorks Rx+ system
and we believe the application increased patient safety as well,” stated Bob
Nickel, Senior Vice President of Hawaii Medical Service Association. “HMSA seeks
to advance the level of medical care and services available to our members and
contain costs. We actively seek long-term agreements like our partnership with
Allscripts which can help us realize these goals.”
HMSA began testing the TouchWorks system in July 2000. Over the following
months, HMSA physicians used handheld devices to prescribe medications, perform
drug-to-drug interaction and allergy checks, verify formulary compliance, and
generate legible prescriptions for electronic transmission to pharmacies.
“HMSA is a very exciting partnership for us and an excellent example of how a
leading payer can make a difference in driving adoption of e-prescribing
technology,” said T. Scott Leisher, Executive Vice President of Allscripts
Healthcare Solutions. “HMSA’s decision to accelerate their utilization of
TouchWorks is based on the results we have been able to deliver for both their
physicians and, ultimately, their patients.”
About Hawaii Medical Service Association
HMSA is a nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in Hawaii in 1938. It is
guided by a community board of directors that serves without compensation and
includes representatives from business, labor, government, health care,
education, clergy, and the community at large. It is a member of the Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue
Shields plans. Nationally, HMSA and 42 other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans
provide worldwide coverage to more than 82 million members.
About Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions is the leading provider of point-of-care
decision support solutions for physicians. The Company’s TouchWorks software
products enhance physician productivity using a wireless handheld device or
desktop workstation to automate the most common physician activities including
prescribing, capturing charges, dictating, ordering labs and viewing results,
providing patient education, and taking clinical notes. The Company also
provides medication fulfillment services. Additionally, Allscripts provides
patient compliance and healthcare product education services for physicians
through its Physicians Interactive unit. Allscripts provides services to over
20,000 physicians across the U.S.
Strategic partners include IDX Systems (Nasdaq: IDXC); IMS Health (NYSE: RX);
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT); Compaq (NYSE: CPQ); Express Scripts (Nasdaq: ESRX);
and Merck-Medco.
TouchWorks Rx+ and TouchWorks are trademarks of Allscripts Healthcare Solutions.
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 2001 Annual Report on
Form 10-K, available through the Web site maintained by the Securities and
Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov .
MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT – Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X27702684
SOURCE Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
CONTACT: Dan Michelson, Vice President of Marketing of Allscripts
Healthcare Solutions, +1-800-654-0889, Ext. 4330,
dan.michelson@allscripts.comURL: https://www.allscripts.com
http://www.prnewswire.com
Copyright (C) 2002 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.