MADISON, N.J., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics' (NYSE: DGX) health information technology subsidiary MedPlus and HP today announced they are partnering to facilitate and simplify electronic health record (EHR) adoption for physician practices nationwide.  

Quest Diagnostics' web-based Care360™ EHR software and services coupled with HP hardware, services and financing, bring a unique offering to physicians. A key part of this relationship is offering preconfigured bundles designed to enable physicians to leverage their technology investment for faster access to patient information and improved office efficiency.  Physicians can receive a personalized onsite assessment of both their technical environment and practice workflow to better understand their unique practice needs.

To help educate physicians on EHRs and meaningful use, Quest Diagnostics and HP will launch a nationwide tour in Baltimore, MD on October 28th. Additional cities and dates will be announced shortly.  

HealthDynamix, the healthcare division of PC Mall (Nasdaq: MALL) and an HP PartnerONE Healthcare Elite Partner, will deliver the solution, providing hardware implementation and support services across the United States.

Approximately one third of U.S. physicians—and many of the country's leading hospitals, health plans, and regional health exchanges—currently rely on health care information solutions developed by Quest Diagnostics to document, analyze and monitor diagnostic, prescription and clinical data to provide better patient care. Because Care360 EHR is completely web-based, the only requirement is Internet access, which reduces the time and costs of implementing the solution.  Coupled with HP's network connectivity, physicians can access more secure patient information, from a fixed or mobile Internet browser.

"Combining our Care360 EHR solution with HP's hardware and services creates a comprehensive platform for small to medium-sized physician practices to easily and cost-effectively transition to an EHR system," said Richard A. Mahoney, Quest Diagnostics' vice president of Healthcare Information Solutions and president of its MedPlus healthcare information technology subsidiary. "The joint solution is designed to deliver the tools physicians need to improve overall clinical outcomes and realize the many financial incentives of EHR adoption."  

HP is an industry leader in healthcare technology innovation with tablet PCs, notebooks, desktops, workstations and thin clients, as well as digital signage and smartphones, designed for the rigors of patient care settings. HP's broad product line will be integrated into the Care360 EHR offering to provide customers the flexibility to choose the right product and solution for each unique healthcare environment, making it easy for physicians to buy an EHR solution.

HP will also offer special financing solutions, through HP Financial Services -- the company's leasing and lifecycle asset management services division that provide physician practices monthly payment options prior to receiving financial incentives from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for implementing a qualified EHR.  

"The vision of a completely secure, wired and interoperable electronic healthcare system is rapidly becoming a reality, yet many physicians are struggling to find the optimal balance of hardware and software as they migrate to EHR adoption," said Chris Mertens, vice president of the Healthcare Business in the Personal Systems Group at HP. "Our collaboration with Quest Diagnostics will help medical practices find that optimal balance with a custom solution flexible enough to meet their current and future healthcare IT needs."  

Visit www.Care360.com for more information about Quest Diagnostics' Care360 solutions.

Additional information about HP healthcare offerings is available at www.hp.com/go/healthcare.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

About MedPlus

MedPlus, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the healthcare information technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics. MedPlus is a leading developer and integrator of clinical connectivity and healthcare information exchange solutions designed to foster better patient care and improve business performance for health care institutions, physicians and patients. The company's Care360 platform is used by more than 160,000 physicians in more than 70,000 locations. The company's Centergy™ and ChartMaxx® solutions efficiently and securely collect, store, manage and integrate clinical information within an organization, enterprise, practice or community. Centergy enables clinicians to access patient data in a centralized view aggregated from multiple care sites. ChartMaxx®, the company's award-winning DMI and electronic patient record system, has been implemented in more than 140 hospitals and integrated health care delivery networks and has more than 400,000 users. For more information, visit www.MedPlus.com.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics is the world's 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 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 diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care. Additional company information is available at www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated