- Connection Enables Two-Way Communication Between Physicians and Pharmacies -
ALEXANDRIA, Va. and LYNDHURST, N.J., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
SureScripts, the nation's largest network provider of electronic prescribing
services, and Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading
provider of diagnostic laboratory testing, information and services, announced
today that Quest Diagnostics' Care360 physician portal has established a
direct electronic connection to the majority of U.S. retail pharmacies through
the SureScripts Electronic Prescribing Network.
Quest Diagnostics is the first laboratory company to connect to the
SureScripts Electronic Prescribing network. Care360 physician portal customers
can now electronically respond to prescription renewal requests, minimizing
the amount of time spent phoning and faxing pharmacies in response to
prescription renewal requests. SureScripts' network enables the secure,
reliable transmission and delivery of electronic prescription orders and
refill authorization requests between computers at pharmacies and computers at
the physician's office.
"Quest Diagnostics has been a long-standing leader in the delivery of
diagnostic testing services and is now an established leader in electronic
laboratory test orders and results retrieval," said Kevin Hutchinson,
president and CEO of SureScripts. "We are pleased to see Quest Diagnostics
apply the same leadership to the area of healthcare information technology and
applaud the commitment of Quest Diagnostics to provide their physician clients
with access to the most relevant tools for improving the prescribing process
and the quality of healthcare."
The Care360 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. The Care360 physician portal was
developed by MedPlus, the healthcare information technology subsidiary of
Quest Diagnostics.
In three easy steps physicians can create and send online prescription
orders with the Care360 physician portal to the majority of retail pharmacies
in the nation. Today, over 85% of the retail pharmacies in the United States
have completed the testing and certification process to connect to
SureScripts' network and one in three retail pharmacies are already live on
the SureScripts network.
"We are excited to be the first laboratory company to connect to the
SureScripts Electronic Prescribing Network," said Richard A. Mahoney, Vice
President, Healthcare Information Solutions at Quest Diagnostics. "In
addition, we are pleased to offer Care360 users a more efficient process for
responding to prescription refill authorization requests."
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services that patients and doctors need to make better
healthcare decisions. 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 a pioneer in developing
innovative new diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology
solutions that help improve patient care. 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 2004 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
About MedPlus
MedPlus, the healthcare information technology subsidiary of Quest
Diagnostics, is a leading developer and integrator of clinical connectivity
and healthcare data management solutions that foster better patient care and
improve business performance for healthcare institutions, physicians and
patients. The company's ChartMaxx and Care360 solutions efficiently and
securely collect, store, manage and integrate clinical information within an
organization, enterprise, practice or community. ChartMaxx, the award-winning
electronic patient record solution, has been implemented in more than 100
hospitals and clinics with over 115,000 clinical and administrative users.
Care360 is a patient-centric physician portal providing a network of over
50,000 physicians and their staff with tools to improve patient care and
overall office efficiency. For more information, visit the Company's Web site
at http://www.medplus.com.
About SureScripts
SureScripts, the largest network provider of electronic prescribing
services, 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 network, a healthcare infrastructure, which establishes
electronic communications between pharmacists and physicians and enables the
two-way electronic exchange of prescription information. More information
about SureScripts is available at http://www.surescripts.com.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated; SureScripts
CONTACT:
Laure Park (Investors), 201-393-5030, or
Jennifer Somers (Media), 201-729-8386,
both of Quest Diagnostics;
or Tammy Lewis of SureScripts,
914-400-4376, tammy.lewis@surescripts.com