TETERBORO, N.J., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics
Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services, announced today that its MedPlus healthcare
information technology subsidiary was recognized as the number one document
management and imaging (DMI) vendor in 2004 for its ChartMaxx(R)
enterprise-wide electronic record solution for hospitals, according to KLAS
Enterprises' "2004 TOP 20: Year-End Best in KLAS Awards." The 2004 award marks
the second time the company has placed first for its ChartMaxx product in the
"Year-End Best in KLAS" study.
KLAS defines DMI vendors as companies that scan, create, archive, workflow
and validate a variety of clinical and administrative documents stored
electronically or in hard copy. According to KLAS, DMI systems are emerging as
critical solutions for hospitals seeking to aggregate data from disparate
systems throughout the organization. The study is a summary of the performance
data collected over 13 months from information technology executives and other
healthcare professionals at 4,500 hospitals and 2,500 clinics nationwide. The
ratings are based on feedback received from current customers.
MedPlus' ChartMaxx solution received the highest overall score of those
vendors ranked in the DMI category. ChartMaxx scored highest in a variety of
areas including "keeps promises," "worth the effort" and "works as promoted."
In addition, 100 percent of respondents indicated they would buy ChartMaxx
again and recommend it to others.
"We are honored to place first once again in this prestigious industry
ranking and earn the 2004 Best in KLAS distinction," said Richard Mahoney,
Vice President, Healthcare Information Solutions at Quest Diagnostics. "The
results validate our commitment to solutions that improve patient care and
maximize hospital business performance through data integration and workflow."
MedPlus has realized significant increases in the number of users and
stored documents since first being recognized as number one by KLAS in
February 2002. Today, it has more than 100 systems installed in hospitals and
clinics with 100,000 clinical and administrative users -- managing more than
250 million clinical and administrative documents for 11 million patients.
About KLAS Enterprises
KLAS, founded in 1996, is the only research and consulting firm that
specializes in providing the healthcare information technology (HIT) industry
with unbiased, factual information on HIT vendor performance. KLAS, teamed
with thousands of healthcare executives, CIOs, directors, managers and
clinicians, has created a dynamic database of information on the performance
of HIT vendors. The KLAS database represents the opinions of healthcare
executives, managers and clinicians from more than 4,500 hospitals and
2,500 clinics on more than 500 different products. The information contained
within the database is current, as it is refreshed daily with new performance
evaluations and interviews. KLAS utilizes a two-step process to collect candid
performance data so KLAS clients are able to clearly see how a vendor or
product is truly performing.
How to Obtain a Copy of the Report
If you have questions about the study or if you would like to purchase a
copy, call toll-free at 866-268-9438 or visit http://www.healthcomputing.com.
About ChartMaxx
ChartMaxx is an enterprise-wide electronic patient record solution, which
enables organizations to create and manage an electronic repository comprised
of clinical, financial and administrative information. Immediate, concurrent
access to information makes ChartMaxx a key component in efficient management
of patient records. The solution provides the tools hospitals need to
accelerate turnaround time for chart completion, introduce electronic patient
registration, utilize remote coding, automate release of information and
maximize electronic information access across the entire facility. ChartMaxx
has been implemented in more than 100 hospitals and throughout the United
States and Canada. For more information visit http://www.medplus.com.
About MedPlus
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
eMaxx(R) Care360(TM) (physician-focused clinical integration portal solution)
and ChartMaxx(R) (electronic patient record solution) have been implemented in
more than 300 healthcare facilities throughout North America. MedPlus is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. For more
information, visit the Company's Web site at http://www.medplus.com.
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. 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- 01/21/2005
/CONTACT: Investors - Laure Park, +1-201-393-5030, or Media - Jennifer
Somers, +1-201-393-5700, both of Quest Diagnostics /
/Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com
http://www.healthcomputing.com
http://www.medplus.com /
(DGX)