- See an introductory demonstration at MedPlus booth # 2527 at the HIMSS
conference, February 13 - 16 in San Diego -
LYNDHURST, N.J., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics
Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of diagnostic
laboratory testing, information and services announced today that its enhanced
Care360 Physician Portal now combines laboratory test results and prescription
data to help doctors evaluate patients' response to medication therapy.
The Care360 Physician Portal, developed by MedPlus, Quest Diagnostics'
healthcare information technology subsidiary, now enables doctors to view
diagnostic test results and medication data simultaneously. For the first
time, physicians who use the Care360 Physician Portal will be able to see the
effects of their treatment plans by looking at a graphical representation of
laboratory test results and medications available within the portal. With
customizable flowsheets, physicians can graphically monitor patients' response
to a prescribed treatment plan over time.
The Care360 Physician Portal is an affordable solution for the more than
80,000 physicians and their office staff who use the portal to receive
laboratory test reports for more than 9 million patients each month.
"We enhanced the Care360 Physician Portal based on customer feedback,"
said Richard A. Mahoney, Vice President, Healthcare Information Solutions at
Quest Diagnostics. "Now doctors can quickly and visually assess the impact of
medications on patients' laboratory values to monitor their progress,
encourage compliance to therapy or make changes as necessary."
At the same time, the Care360 Physician Portal has been enhanced with new
electronic prescribing features that allow doctors to see critical patient
information when prescribing medication, reducing the opportunity for
potentially harmful medication errors. In one view, physicians can now review
available medication histories, many drug-to-drug and allergy-to-drug
interactions, patient concerns, physician notes and recent laboratory test
results. The physician can then electronically prescribe medications right
from the patient chart, sending the prescription directly to a local pharmacy
or pharmacy benefit management company. Care360 Physician Portal premium
services, including electronic prescribing and other administrative services
are available to physicians for a monthly subscription fee.
"Above all, doctors wanted more context for better decision making, so in
one view, the Care360 Physician Portal can now surround the doctor with
medication histories, laboratory test results and patient concerns," added
Mahoney.
New information sharing features enable doctors to improve collaboration
in a physician community. Physicians can now securely share select portions of
a patient's file with specialists and other members of the clinical team in a
format that allows the recipient to automatically integrate the patient's
information into their charts. Patients who are seen by multiple healthcare
providers will benefit from physicians having complete patient information.
According to a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association, clinical information, including laboratory results and
medications, was missing in 13.6% of primary care visits and was found "to be
at least somewhat likely to adversely affect patients" 44% of the time.
("Missing Clinical Information During Primary Care Visits," JAMA 2005;293:565-
571)
Additional administrative features now include enhanced reporting
capabilities that allow physicians and administrators to monitor information
practice-wide and generate pay-for-performance or quality measure reports, as
well as identify trends or flag patients meeting certain criteria. For
example, if a medical guideline is changed, such as a lower target glucose
level, or a drug is recalled, doctors can quickly identify all patients in the
Care360 system that are impacted.
MedPlus will demonstrate version 2.0 of the Care360 Physician Portal at
the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference
in the San Diego Convention Center, February 13-16, 2006, at Booth #2527. The
company will also be featuring its ChartMaxx electronic patient record
solution.
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 information technology solutions
that help improve patient care. Additional company information is available
at: www.questdiagnostics.com.
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
80,000 physicians and their staff with tools to improve patient care and
overall office efficiency. For more information, visit the Company's Web site
at www.medplus.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 SEC filings, including its latest Form 10-K.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics
CONTACT:
Laure Park, Investors, +1-201-393-5030, or
Jennifer Somers,
Media +1-201-729-8386