Blessing Health System Selects Allscripts Electronic Health Record and Practice Management for Physicians in Three-State Area
Hospital-Based Agreement Highlights Impact of Regulatory Changes Connecting Physicians and Hospitals
CHICAGO and QUINCY, Ill., (August 15, 2007) –
Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX), the leading provider of clinical software and information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare, announced today that Blessing Health System has selected Allscripts as their Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Practice Management (PM) provider to automate and connect clinical and administrative processes for more than 60 employed and independent physicians.
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Quincy-based Blessing Health System operates two hospitals and a variety of other healthcare services, including Blessing Physician Services (BPS), a multi-specialty group of 40 physicians who serve patients from Western Illinois, Northeast Missouri and Southeast Iowa. Blessing Health System will provide the Allscripts solutions to their employed physicians in their physician services group as well as to another 21 independent faculty physicians and medical residents of the Quincy Family Practice Center, a teaching facility of the Southern Illinois University Medical School.
In extending the technology offering to independent physicians, Blessing Health System is taking advantage of recent changes to federal regulations that are connecting physicians and hospitals nationwide. The federal Stark regulation, which limits the scope of hospital-physician relationships, has been relaxed to enable hospitals to assist non-employed physicians in adopting healthcare information technologies, including electronic health records, to enhance patient safety and quality of care.
“By offering both affiliated and non-affiliated physicians the Allscripts electronic health record and practice management solution, we can provide a seamless connection to critical patient information along the entire continuum of care,” said Jerry Jackson, President/Chief Executive Officer, Blessing Physician Services. “Our goal is to develop a hospital-based community model under which Blessing Hospital and all of Quincy’s medical groups join to offer truly integrated patient care.”
The Electronic Health Record provides physicians at Blessing Physician Services with instant access to patient information when and where they need it — at the hospital, in their offices, or while on-call at home. The web-based solution automates everyday clinical tasks such as prescribing and refilling medications, ordering and reviewing tests, and documenting patient care. Easy to use and customize, the Electronic Health Record features robust clinical tools that support safe medical practices, including health maintenance alerts, clinical decision support, and automated drug safety checking.
The Practice Management functionality combines sophisticated scheduling and Revenue Cycle Management tools to help physician practices become more productive while improving service to patients. Important features include advanced billing and reconciliation, referral and eligibility indicators, and automated patient appointment reminders.
Following a comprehensive search, Blessing Physician Services selected Allscripts for the company’s financial stability and demonstrated ability to successfully deploy the Electronic Health Record and Practice Management solutions for large hospital-based organizations.
“The physicians who participated in the Allscripts demonstration were impressed that they could intuitively use the electronic health record to move through their workflow in a natural fashion,” said Gina Genenbacher, Director, Blessing Physician Services. “Allscripts provides all the advantages of an automated clinical system that enhances a physician’s ability to deliver quality patient care.”
Allscripts Chief Executive Officer Glen Tullman commented, “Increasing numbers of hospitals are intent on developing an end-to-end community care model that assures continuity of care for patients whether they are in the hospital or physician’s offices outside the hospital. The cornerstone of the community model is immediate access to patient information, anytime and anywhere, and we are proud that Blessing Health System has selected Allscripts to help deliver on that vision.”
About Blessing Health System
Blessing Corporate Services, Inc., formed in 1983, is the parent company of the Blessing Health System, which consists of 340-bed Blessing Hospital, Illini Community Hospital, Blessing Physician Services, Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing, The Blessing Foundation, Blessing Affiliates, Inc., and Denman Services, Inc.
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.
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements about Allscripts Healthcare Solutions that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are developed by combining currently available information with Allscripts beliefs and assumptions. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance. Because Allscripts cannot predict all of the risks and uncertainties that may affect it, or control the ones it does predict, Allscripts’ actual results may be materially different from the results expressed in its forward-looking statements. For a more complete discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may affect Allscripts, see the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, available through the Web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
SOURCE Allscripts
-0- 08/15/2007
/CONTACT: Dan Michelson, Chief Marketing Officer, +1-312-506-1217,
dan.michelson@allscripts.com, or Todd Stein, Senior ManagerPublic Relations,
+1-312-506-1216, todd.stein@allscripts.com; or Emily Robbearts,
MarketingOutreach Coordinator of Blessing Physician Services,
+1-217-223-8400, ext. 7894, eorobbearts@blessinghospital.org/
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/Web site: http://www.allscripts.com /
(MDRX)
CO: Allscripts; Blessing Health System
ST: Illinois
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7379 08/15/2007 09:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
Source: Allscripts
