-- See the Care360 eMaxx Physician Portal at Booth #2274 at the American
Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly in Orlando, Florida,
October 14-17, 2004 -
TETERBORO, N.J., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics
Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) announced today that its Care360 eMaxx physician
portal now offers enhanced electronic prescribing services with online access
to patients' pharmacy benefit information. The patient-centric Care360 eMaxx
physician portal was developed by MedPlus(TM), Quest Diagnostics' healthcare
information technology subsidiary.
The Care360 eMaxx physician portal features a live connection to RxHub, an
electronic exchange for the prescribing industry, that lets physicians view
medication histories for their patients, check pharmacy plan eligibility and
formulary information, and write prescriptions electronically within seconds.
Earlier this year Quest Diagnostics signed agreements with RxHub, Medco
Health Solutions and Express Scripts to gain online access to their pharmacy
benefit services and information. Quest Diagnostics is the only laboratory
company with access to RxHub. RxHub is a joint venture formed in 2001 by
Medco, AdvancePCS (acquired by Caremark Rx), and Express Scripts, three of the
leading pharmacy benefit managers in the United States.
"Quest Diagnostics advances the use of information technology solutions
that help improve patient care, and doctors naturally look to us for
innovative tools like the Care360 eMaxx patient-centric portal," said Richard
A. Mahoney, Vice President, Healthcare Information Solutions at Quest
Diagnostics. "No other laboratory provider offers doctors this combination of
actionable information -- labs, pharmacy benefits and other clinical
information -- through a single log-on that can help them to glean important
clinical insights and deliver better patient care."
The Care360 eMaxx physician portal enables physicians to order diagnostic
tests and review laboratory results online; prescribe medication at the point
of care; view clinical and administrative information from multiple sources;
file documents received electronically or in hard copy into a health record;
and share confidential patient information with medical colleagues in a manner
that is consistent with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act) privacy and security requirements.
In three easy steps physicians can create and send online prescription
orders with the Care360 eMaxx physician portal to the majority of retail
pharmacies in the nation. Beginning next year the physician portal will offer
enhanced two-way communication between physicians and retail pharmacies
through SureScripts, the largest network provider of electronic prescribing
services. It will allow physicians to electronically respond to prescription
renewal requests in addition to transmitting prescription orders, minimizing
time spent phoning and faxing. Today, more than 75% of the nation's retail
pharmacies are in the process of establishing connections to the SureScripts
network.
Visit MedPlus and see the Care360 eMaxx physician portal at booth 2274 at
the American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly in Orlando,
Florida, October 14-17, 2004.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of
diagnostic testing, information and services, providing insights that enable
healthcare professionals to make decisions that improve health. The company
offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services through its national
network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive
consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff. Quest
Diagnostics is the leading provider of esoteric testing, including gene-based
medical testing, and provides advanced information technology solutions to
improve patient care. Quest Diagnostics' healthcare information technology
subsidiary, MedPlus, is a leading developer and integrator of clinical
connectivity and data management solutions for healthcare organizations and
clinicians. Additional company information is available at:
http://www.questdiagnostics.com
The statements in this press release which are not historical facts or
information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and
outcomes to be materially different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties
may include, but are not limited to, competitive environment, changes in
government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers,
suppliers and strategic partners and other factors described in the Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated 2003 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
-0- 10/15/2004
/CONTACT: Investors - Laure Park, +1-201-393-5030, Media - Jennifer
Somers, +1-201-393-5700, both for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated/
/Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com /
(DGX)