Quest Diagnostics Incorporated , 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 , 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™ (NEPSI™), 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™, 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 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® 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™ 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.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
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/