St. Joseph's Physicians Association (SJPA), an independent physicians association (IPA) that comprises nearly 400 doctors in the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area, today announced that it has selected Quest Diagnostics' Care360 physician portal to help its physician members deliver better patient care.
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 , the leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services.
SJPA's physicians will now be able to communicate with each other and exchange electronic reports. SJPA polled its members last year and discovered that the majority were interested in such a system, but didn't have the time or financial resources to obtain and extensive system on their own. "SJPA is pleased to provide an economical means of becoming connected to fellow physicians as well as cooperating hospitals and other organizations that provide laboratory and other testing results," said Donald Carr, M.D., president of SJPA.
"This relationship is in keeping with our history of assisting our physicians in providing top-quality patient care," added Dr. Carr. The Care360 system also allows physicians to securely connect from any computer that has Internet access and, according to Dr. Carr, "is a tremendous timesaving over using telephone, fax or regular mail. Its use will have a measurable impact on improving efficient and effective patient care."
Care360 will help SJPA physicians move toward clinical integration, which refers to a linked network of primary care and specialty physicians working as a single team to coordinate care for patients.
In a clinically integrated healthcare environment, physicians share clinical information; coordinate treatment; develop practice protocols; and monitor the compliance of individuals in the group(1). Benefits of clinical integration are to improve the quality of care to patients, control healthcare costs and improve an IPA's competitive advantage.
"We are delighted to offer SJPA physicians a solution that will improve patient care by allowing them to share vital patient information with colleagues," said Richard A. Mahoney, Vice President, Healthcare Information Solutions at Quest Diagnostics. "Information sharing is an important first step toward coordinated care for patients and we are excited that Care360 will play a critical role in this process."
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/.
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 St. Joseph's Physician's Association
St. Joseph's Physicians Association is an independent physicians association that has been providing health care services to Metropolitan Milwaukee area patients for more than 22 years. SJPA has also provided medical management, claims processing and related services for its physicians, as well as for some of its contracted health plans and health organizations.
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.
(1) Source: Thomas B. Leary, "The Anti-Trust Implications of 'Clinical Integration': An Analysis of FTC Staff's Advisory Opinion to MedSouth," http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/leary/eicreview.pdf, p.5., April 12, 2002
SOURCE: Quest Diagnostics; St. Joseph's Physicians Association, S.C.
CONTACT: Investors, Laure Park, +1-201-393-5030, or Media, Gary Samuels
+1-201-393-5700, both of Quest Diagnostics; or Sanford Weisenburg, COO of St.
Joseph's Physicians Association, S.C., +1-262-787-0710, sandyw@sjpaipa.com
Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/
http://www.medplus.com/
http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/leary/eicreview.pdf