HARTFORD, Conn. & CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 7,
2006–Allscripts (Nasdaq:MDRX), the leading provider of clinical
software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use
to improve healthcare, today announced that one of Connecticut’s
largest Physician Hospital Organizations (PHO) has selected the
TouchWorks(TM) Electronic Health Record as part of its vision of
improving quality by providing access to information through regional
integration.
Under the agreement, the Allscripts electronic health record
solution will be deployed to 150 physician members of the Saint
Francis Physician Hospital Organization and ultimately will connect
more than 600 of the PHO’s physicians to each other and to Hartford’s
premier healthcare system, Saint Francis Care, when completely
implemented. From over 300 practice locations across Central
Connecticut, the PHO’s multi-specialty physicians will use the
electronic health record to access real-time test results and other
clinical data on their patients at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical
Center’s (SFH&MC) two acute-care hospital campuses.
“This initiative will deliver on our goal of making Saint Francis
a completely integrated provider network, with real-time electronic
connectivity between the inpatient and outpatient settings,” said Jess
Kupec, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Francis PHO.
“With integration driven by Allscripts, we can deliver higher quality
care to our patients and demonstrate value to our managed care
payors.”
Allscripts connectivity will link the outpatient medical records
of PHO physicians with SFH&MC’s sophisticated hospital-based IT
systems, which electronically join the hospital’s clinical and
financial operations, including radiology, laboratories and billing.
TouchWorks will streamline and improve PHO physician practices by
automating many common clinical activities, such as prescribing
medications, ordering lab tests, documenting patient visits and making
referrals electronically. The electronic health record will improve
the quality and efficiency of patient care by providing physicians
with up-to-date clinical information and the latest decision-making
guidelines when and where they need it – in the office, at the
bedside, or while on-call at home.
Saint Francis PHO selected Allscripts after a 12-month review of
the leading electronic health records involving a committee of more
than 20 physicians, IT specialists and practice administrators.
“The physicians on our review committee felt that TouchWorks was
the most intuitive, easiest-to-use system on the market,” said Bill
Witkowsky, Director of Operations at Saint Francis PHO. “We know
Allscripts will help our members realize a significant
return-on-investment by improving reimbursement and reducing their
costs.”
The PHO will integrate TouchWorks with SFH&MC’s existing
computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system, Carecast(TM) from
IDX(R) Systems Corporation. Allscripts and IDX, now a part of GE
Healthcare, share a strategic relationship that enables seamless
integration between the major enterprise applications of physician
practices.
“We are excited to partner with Saint Francis PHO as they deliver
on their long-term strategy of connecting and integrating its
physicians and hospitals to improve the quality of care they provide,”
said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. “TouchWorks
enables the continuous flow of information between physicians,
pharmacies, patients and payors in more than 2,000 clinics nationwide.
That kind of connectivity transforms healthcare, driving significant
return-on-investment from a patient care, quality and cost
perspective.”
About Saint Francis Physician Hospital Organization
The Saint Francis Physician Hospital Organization (PHO) was formed
in 1993 as a vehicle for Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
(SFH&MC) and the physician members of the SFH&MC Medical Staff to
share in the financial risk of managed care risk contracts. Over the
PHO’s 13-year history, the PHO has expanded its mission to include the
improvement of quality and efficiency of healthcare services provided
by its members. The PHO has built a system of coordinated care which
extends across the continuum of health care services – from the
physician offices of our more than 600 members to the hospital and
into the home, extended care facilities, and outpatient settings.
The New 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 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
Saint Francis PHO
Pete Mobilia, 860-714-4511
pmobilia@stfranciscare.org
SOURCE: Allscripts