CHICAGO & SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 10, 2005–Allscripts
Healthcare Solutions (Nasdaq:MDRX), the leading provider of clinical
software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use
to improve healthcare, announced that Sharp HealthCare has signed an
enterprise agreement to deploy the TouchWorks(TM) electronic health
record (EHR) system at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group to more than
300 physicians across 11 locations. Sharp Rees-Stealy, which is part
of Sharp HealthCare, one of the nation’s leading integrated healthcare
delivery networks and named one of the industry’s most wired
organizations in the country for each of the last six years, will
immediately begin deployment of the EHR system.
“The physicians of Sharp Rees-Stealy are eagerly anticipating the
arrival of our electronic health record,” said Donald C. Balfour, III,
M.D., President and Medical Director, Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group.
“Since 1923 we have been committed to providing the very best care and
service to our patients and this new technology will help to improve
our patient satisfaction. In the near future, vital information will
be at the physician’s fingertips and allow our patients to be more
personally involved in their care.”
The TouchWorks EHR will automate common tasks, such as capturing
charges, placing lab orders, writing prescriptions, and documenting
patient visits, and reduce or eliminate the need for paper records.
Sharp Rees-Stealy physicians will have real-time access to clinical
information and instant access to patient data from any clinic or even
from home via a secure Internet connection.
“We conducted extensive research on various EHR products and
determined that Allscripts was the best fit for the demanding
requirements of our busy physician practices,” said Donna Mills,
Senior Vice President, Sharp Rees-Stealy. “We have more than 900,000
charts, so it is critical that we are able to deliver vital patient
information quickly and securely via a click on the keyboard. We are
eager to begin working with Allscripts, who has demonstrated that they
are committed to our success.”
According to Bill Spooner, Sharp HealthCare’s Chief Information
Officer, Sharp Rees-Stealy will integrate the TouchWorks EHR with the
medical group’s existing IDX Flowcast(TM) revenue cycle management
solution.
“Rolling out the EHR with Sharp Rees-Stealy is the first step in
an eventual system-wide implementation of TouchWorks in the physician
office setting for Sharp HealthCare,” said Spooner, who led Sharp’s
selection team, which included physicians, administrators and nursing
staff. “Given the number of ways we deliver care and the multitude of
locations in both the physician practice and hospital settings, we
believe that the system we selected will perform very effectively in
this complex environment.”
“Sharp is known as one of the best managed, most wired healthcare
organizations in America and has consistently demonstrated a
commitment to lead the way in delivering world-class healthcare to its
patients,” stated Glen Tullman, chief executive officer of Allscripts.
“Sharp’s selection of Allscripts adds another leading client, broadens
our already significant penetration in California and will provide us
with a great partner to further improve our TouchWorks EHR.”
About Sharp HealthCare
Consistently ranked as the number-one integrated healthcare system
by Modern Healthcare, Sharp HealthCare is San Diego’s most
comprehensive healthcare delivery system, recognized for clinical
excellence in cardiac care, women’s services, cancer, orthopedics,
multi-organ transplants, rehabilitation and behavioral health
services. The Sharp system includes four acute care hospitals, three
specialty hospitals and three affiliated medical groups — Sharp
Rees-Stealy, Sharp Mission Park and Sharp Community Medical Group. In
2002, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women was named one of the top ten
places in the U.S. to have a baby, according to FitPregnancy Magazine.
The 2003 Hospitals and Health Care Networks named Sharp one of its
“100 Most Wired” health systems. For more information, visit
www.sharp.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(TM)
software is an Electronic Health Record (EHR) 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 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.
Strategic partners include IDX Systems; IMS Health; Microsoft; and
Hewlett-Packard Company.
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.
CONTACT: Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
Dan Michelson, 847-680-3515 ext. 4330
dan.michelson@allscripts.com
or
Sharp HealthCare
John Cihomsky, 858-499-4117
john.cihomsky@sharp.com
SOURCE: Allscripts Healthcare Solutions