Northeast Georgia Health System Selects Allscripts Electronic Health Record
TouchWorks(TM) Electronic Health Record to Connect Regional Physician Community
CHICAGO & GAINESVILLE, Ga. (March 16, 2006) –
Allscripts (Nasdaq:MDRX), the leading provider of clinical software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare, announced today that Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Health System has selected the TouchWorks(TM) Electronic Health Record to connect and automate its network of primary care physicians.
The Allscripts electronic health record will enable Northeast Georgia’s 35 physicians to have instant access to clinical records from any of the group’s 17 practice locations, the hospital or remotely, and provide a seamless connection to the other administrative and clinical systems in use by the network.
“Our partnership with Allscripts will help us to share clinical information across our entire community of physicians to enhance the quality of care we provide,” said Richard Tanzella, Executive Director of the Gainesville-based health system, which serves nearly 700,000 patients in 15 counties. “The electronic health record will give our physicians real-time access to patient information, without having to shuttle paper charts back and forth between centers. It’s simply the best way to treat patients and manage their care across multiple locations.”
The web-based electronic health record solution will enable Northeast Georgia’s physicians to automate many of their daily clinical tasks, such as prescribing medications, ordering lab tests, viewing test results, making referrals electronically and documenting clinical encounters. Given their confidence in the success of their new system, Northeast Georgia built its newest clinic without a medical chart room and will soon open as a paperless facility.
Northeast Georgia plans to offer the electronic health record to unaffiliated specialty physician groups through its Management Services Organization, which provides practice management, administrative, and support services to Northeast Georgia’s group practices. “We see this as a unique opportunity to share data across multiple non-affiliated groups for the same patient, with a focus on providing the best patient care regardless of where they are seen,” said Tanzella. “That’s our long-term goal and we believe that Allscripts will help get us there.”
Northeast Georgia conducted an extensive one-year evaluation of electronic health record vendors with guidance from the Georgia Medical Care Foundation and ultimately selected Allscripts for its industry leadership. Tanzella said Northeast Georgia also was impressed by Allscripts ability to provide standardized interoperability with the group’s existing IDX(R) Groupcast(TM) practice management system. Allscripts and IDX, now a part of GE Healthcare, share a strategic relationship that will directly link clinical and financial information systems to support process redesign and operational enhancements at Northeast Georgia Health System.
“The electronic health record has quickly become mission-critical to the delivery of healthcare,” commented Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. “We are excited to partner with Northeast Georgia Health System as they begin the implementation of the Allscripts electronic health record and we applaud the leadership role they have taken to extend electronic connectivity across Northeast Georgia’s medical group practices.”
About Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Health System
Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Health System (NGHS) is a not-for-profit community health system dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of the people of Northeast Georgia. NGHS offers a full range of healthcare services through two inpatient hospitals, a 17-center primary care network and a skilled nursing facility, serving nearly 700,000 people in more than 15 counties across Northeast Georgia. Extending the health system’s reach into the communities it serves are outlying facilities including primary care offices, outpatient rehabilitation centers offering physical, occupational and speech therapy, and a satellite cancer treatment center as well as in-home services such as hospice and Lifeline, a personal emergency response system. In 2001, NGHS celebrated its 50th year of serving northeast Georgia.
About Allscripts
Allscripts is the leading provider of clinical software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare. The Company’s business groups provide unique solutions that inform, connect and transform healthcare. The Clinical Solutions Group’s award-winning software applications include electronic health record, practice management, e-prescribing, document imaging, emergency department and care management solutions. Additionally, Allscripts provides clinical product education and connectivity solutions for physicians and patients through its Physicians Interactive(TM) Group and medication fulfillment services through its Medication Services Group. 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 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, available through the Web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
CONTACT: Allscripts
Dan Michelson, 312-506-1217
dan.michelson@allscripts.com
or
NGHS
Richard Tanzella, 770-531-6225
richard.tanzella@nghs.com
SOURCE: Allscripts
Source: Allscripts
