TETERBORO, N.J., and ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of
diagnostic laboratory testing, information and services, announced today that
the company's healthcare information technology subsidiary, MedPlus, has
entered into an agreement with SureScripts to provide physicians with
electronic prescribing capabilities.
SureScripts is at the forefront of a growing movement to harness
technology to improve the safety and quality of prescribing by building a
nationwide electronic prescribing network, SureScripts Messenger(TM) Services.
Companies and software vendors representing 50 percent of the nation's retail
pharmacies have completed the certification process required to connect to
SureScripts Messenger Services and are at various stages of making the
capability available in their pharmacies.
As part of the agreement, Quest Diagnostics' physician portal solution,
called eMaxx(R), will connect to SureScripts' network, enabling physicians to
transmit prescription orders and respond to prescription renewal requests
electronically, minimizing time spent phoning and faxing.
eMaxx enables physicians to order diagnostic tests and review laboratory
test results online; view clinical and administrative information from many
sources; share confidential patient information with medical colleagues; and
prescribe medication at the point-of-care, all in a manner that is consistent
with the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy
and security requirements.
"Two-way electronic communication between physicians and pharmacies is
critically important to achieving greater patient safety," said Richard A.
Mahoney, president, MedPlus. "With SureScripts we're adding an important
service for customers who rely on eMaxx to perform vital clinical and
administrative tasks for patients."
"The fact that MedPlus recognizes the importance of connecting to
pharmacies is a strong indication of physician demand to improve patient
safety and modernize the prescription process," said Kevin Hutchinson,
president and CEO of SureScripts. "Quest Diagnostics' customers will now have
the option of electronic prescribing, which benefits physicians, pharmacists,
and patients."
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of
diagnostic testing, information and services, providing insights that enable
physicians, hospitals, managed care organizations and other healthcare
professionals to make decisions to improve health. The company offers patients
and physicians the broadest access to diagnostic laboratory services through
its national network of laboratories and patient service centers. Quest
Diagnostics is the leading provider of esoteric testing, including gene-based
medical testing, and empowers healthcare organizations and clinicians with
advanced information technology solutions that improve practice management.
Additional company information can be found on the Internet at:
www.questdiagnostics.com.
About MedPlus
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. These
solutions efficiently and securely collect, store, manage and retrieve
clinical information within an organization, enterprise or community via
virtual private networks and/or the Internet. MedPlus solutions, including
ChartMaxx(R) (electronic patient record solution), eMaxx (physician-focused
clinical integration portal solution) and LabPortal(TM) (lab test ordering and
results retrieval solution) have been implemented in more than 300 healthcare
facilities throughout North America. For more information, visit the Company's
Web site at www.medplus.com.
About SureScripts
SureScripts is committed to building relationships within the healthcare
community and working collaboratively with key industry stakeholders and
organizations to improve the safety, efficiency and quality of healthcare by
improving the overall prescribing process. At the core of this improvement
effort is SureScripts Messenger(TM) Services, a healthcare infrastructure
which establishes electronic communications between pharmacists and physicians
and enables the two-way electronic exchange of prescription information.
Today, companies and software vendors representing 50 percent of the
pharmacies in the United States have completed the testing and certification
process to connect to SureScripts Messenger Services and are at various stages
of pharmacy and market roll-out. SureScripts Messenger Services is the first
step to support true electronic prescribing in an industry still reliant on
fax, phone, pen and paper. More information about SureScripts is available at
www.surescripts.com.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated; SureScripts
-0- 02/25/2004
/CONTACT: Investors - Laure Park, +1-201-393-5030, or Media - Gary
Samuels, +1-201-393-5700, both of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated; or Mike
Beyer for SureScripts, +1-312-961-2502, mike.beyer@ritzcommunications.com/
/Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com
http://www.medplus.com
http://www.surescripts.com /
(DGX)
CO: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated; SureScripts
ST: New Jersey