Collaboration Expected to Drive Physician Adoption of Patient-Safety
Technology
eRx NOW(TM) Functionality Expanded to Include Quest Diagnostics Care360(TM)
Physician Portal Lab Order and Results Capabilities
LYNDHURST, N.J. and CHICAGO, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of
diagnostic testing, information and services and a leading developer of
healthcare IT solutions that foster better patient care, and Allscripts
(Nasdaq: MDRX), the leading provider of clinical software, connectivity and
information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare, today
announced that Quest Diagnostics has joined the National ePrescribing Patient
Safety Initiative(TM) (NEPSI(TM)), a joint project of dedicated organizations
that each play a unique role in resolving the current crisis in preventable
medication errors. Additionally, both companies announced that physician users
of eRx NOW(TM), the web-based NEPSI electronic prescribing application
provided free of charge by Allscripts, will now have access to electronic
laboratory orders and results capabilities from Quest Diagnostics at no
charge.
The collaboration between Quest Diagnostics and Allscripts adds
significant new capabilities to the NEPSI solution. Quest Diagnostics will
provide physician users of eRx NOW with access to the electronic laboratory
order and results module within its Care360 Physician Portal at no charge.
Now, in addition to ePrescribing, through a single sign-on, eRx NOW
subscribers will be able to see how many lab results are pending and will be
able to click through to the Care360 Physician Portal to order lab tests and
view, flow, and graph laboratory results, as well as run analyses on their
patient population. This integrated access is expected to be available later
this year.
"As a pioneer in using healthcare IT to drive improvements in patient care
and safety, we are excited to join NEPSI and to support its efforts to expand
the use of ePrescribing," said Surya N. Mohapatra, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Quest Diagnostics. "Our company leads the diagnostics
industry in driving quality and access to healthcare, and we believe we can
accelerate the adoption of e-prescribing by making the combination of lab
orders and results in our Care360 Physician Portal product available more
broadly for the benefit of physicians and their patients."
NEPSI is a coalition of the nation's leading healthcare and technology
companies who share a commitment to improve patient safety by providing free
access to simple, safe and secure electronic prescribing for every physician
in America. Along with Quest Diagnostics, NEPSI sponsors include national
co-sponsors Allscripts and Dell; healthcare sponsors Aetna, Horizon BCBS of
New Jersey, NaviMedix and WellPoint; technology sponsors Cisco, Fujitsu,
Microsoft, and Sprint; information sponsor Wolters Kluwer Health; connectivity
sponsors eRx Networks and SureScripts; and search sponsor Google.
"We are pleased that Quest Diagnostics has joined the growing list of
healthcare and technology companies who are committed to improving patient
safety by sponsoring NEPSI," said Glen Tullman, NEPSI Co-Chair and Chief
Executive Officer of Allscripts. "Further, the lab functionality added by
Quest Diagnostics will extend the reach of eRx NOW to a broader audience of
providers moving them further along the road toward electronic health
records."
Quest Diagnostics' connectivity products are used by more than 115,000
physicians nationwide. Its large user base provides an opportunity to
dramatically drive market penetration and physician utilization of electronic
prescribing.
Electronic access to both lab and prescription data enables physicians to
improve patient care, more easily participate in pay-for-performance programs,
and increase the efficiency of their practices.
Interested prescribers can visit the NEPSI web site, www.nationaleRx.com,
to register for eRx NOW or Quest Diagnostics' Care360 Physician Portal
website, www.questdiagnostics.com/Care360 to request the Care360 Physician
Portal.
About NEPSI
The National ePrescribing Patient Safety Initiative (NEPSI) is a coalition
of the nation's most prominent technology companies and leading healthcare
organizations dedicated to improving patient safety by providing free access
to simple, safe and secure electronic prescribing for every physician in
America. The coalition is led by Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX) and national
sponsor Dell, as well as sponsors Aetna, Cisco Systems, eRx Networks, Fujitsu,
Google, Microsoft, NaviMedix, Quest Diagnostics, Sprint Nextel, Smart ID
Works, SureScripts, WellPoint, and Wolters Kluwer Health. The NEPSI offering
also is supported by a growing number of academic medical centers, integrated
delivery networks and physician groups across the U.S. who are leading the
rollout of the NEPSI electronic prescribing solution, eRx NOW, within their
states and regions. For more information, visit NEPSI on the web at
www.NationaleRx.com. eRx(R) is a federally registered trademark belonging to
eRx Network, LLC, and Allscripts' use is pursuant to license.
About Allscripts
Allscripts is the leading provider of clinical software, connectivity and
information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare. The Company's
business units provide unique solutions that inform, connect and transform
healthcare. Allscripts award-winning software applications include Electronic
Health Records, practice management, e-prescribing, document imaging,
emergency department, and care management solutions, all offered through the
Company's Clinical Solutions units. Additionally, Allscripts provides clinical
product education and connectivity solutions for physicians and patients
through its Physicians Interactive(TM) unit, and medication fulfillment
services through its Medication Services unit. To learn more, visit Allscripts
on the web at www.allscripts.com.
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: www.questdiagnostics.com.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts or
information may be forward-looking statements about Allscripts Healthcare
Solutions or Quest Diagnostics that involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. These statements
are developed by combining currently available information with Allscripts' or
Quest Diagnostics' beliefs and assumptions. Forward-looking statements do not
guarantee future performance. Because the companies cannot predict all of the
risks and uncertainties that may affect them, or control the ones they do
predict, Allscripts' or Quest Diagnostics' actual results may be materially
different from the results expressed in their forward-looking statements. For
a more complete discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that
may affect Allscripts or Quest Diagnostics, see their 2006 Annual Reports on
Form 10-K, available through the Web site maintained by the Securities and
Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
CONTACT: Laure Park, Investor Relations, +1-201-393-5030,
or Wendy Bost, Media Relations, +1-201-393-5700,
both of Quest Diagnostics;
or Dan Michelson, Chief Marketing Officer, +1-312-506-1217,
dan.michelson@allscripts.com
or Todd Stein, Senior Manager Public Relations, +1-312-506-1216,
todd.stein@allscripts.com,
both of Allscripts/
Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com
http://www.allscripts.com
http://www.questdiagnostics.com/Care360
http://www.nationaleRx.com /
(DGX MDRX)