News
Issue #2002 - 29 (July 2002)
(Updated July 31, 2002)

APPLICATIONS & DEVELOPMENT

CHICAGO, IL, USA  – Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, a provider of point-of-care decision support tools for physicians, announced today that Aurora Health Care (Aurora), the largest not-for-profit health care system in Wisconsin, will implement a number of TouchWorks™ mobile clinical applications. Aurora's decision came following a successful initial deployment at eight Aurora clinics with the TouchWorks Rx+™ e-prescribing module by 60 physicians. Aurora will now expand e-prescribing to over 300 physicians as well as roll out additional functionality, such as TouchWorks Charge™. Aurora cited patient safety and speed of implementation as key reasons for selecting Allscripts.

Patient Safety is Top Priority: "A Blueprint for the Nation"
Aurora chose TouchWorks software for its ability to improve patient safety, a primary concern for practice groups across the country. According to the 2000 Institute of Medicine report, as many as 98,000 patients die per year due to medical errors. By automating their physicians with TouchWorks, Aurora will leverage leading edge technology to help their physicians reduce medication errors and deliver improved care to their patients. 

"The care and safety of our patients is paramount," says Eliot Huxley, M.D., president of Aurora Medical Group, which provides care at 75 clinics throughout eastern Wisconsin. "TouchWorks represents a significant part of our response to rising national concern over medication errors. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has called for eliminating handwritten prescriptions by 2003. I have no doubt that our success could be a blueprint for the rest of the nation."

Patient safety has also been the focus of several health care watchdog organizations. The Leapfrog Group, a coalition of over 100 public and private employers, focuses on saving lives and reducing preventable medical mistakes through technology. Recently, Leapfrog has focused on computerized physician order entry (or CPOE) technology, and currently is preparing recommendations to extend these safety measures to doctors' offices.

"We're excited to partner with an organization which demonstrates real leadership on patient safety, a critical public health issue," stated Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts Healthcare Solutions. "Aurora based much of their decision on the patient safety benefits, clearly a reflection of their commitment to the patients that they care for."

Technology Improving Patient Safety and Service
Aurora physicians will use TouchWorks e-prescribing software on handheld devices (the Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC from HP) to bring this technology to their patients at the point of care. The system works in real-time through a wireless network connected to central computers and printers within clinics allowing physicians to use these pocket-sized computers wherever they work. The TouchWorks Rx+ application will help prevent medication errors by automatically checking for drug and food interactions, allergies, and compliance with the patient's insurance provider guidelines. TouchWorks automates the time consuming process of reviewing patient history and patient specific formulary as well as prepares the prescription in a legible format. The end result - TouchWorks saves the patient time at the pharmacy, co-payment dollars, and most importantly improves the level of medical care the patient receives.

"The system enhances patient safety with a three-pronged approach - it eliminates doctor handwriting, tests for drug to drug interactions, and tests for patient drug allergies or possible adverse reactions," explains John Schwab, M.D. an internist at Wilkinson Medical Clinic in Hartland, one of the sites involved in the initial deployment. Dr. Schwab was instrumental in evaluating the new program. "In the past, if I had 45 different patients with 45 different insurance plans, then I had 45 different drug formularies to review. The new system does it automatically. It's a huge step forward." Using TouchWorks Rx+, physicians see a message pop up on their handheld device that alerts them to contraindications or possible problems with the prescription they are writing. This alert allows physicians to modify their prescription accordingly at the point of care, saving time for the patient at the pharmacy.

The e-prescribing software automates many tasks, allowing physicians to spend more time with their patients. Copies of the electronic prescription automatically become part of the patient's medical record and the system can also immediately send the prescription to a pharmacy of the patient's choosing. Additionally, the clarity of electronic prescriptions can reduce the large volume of telephone traffic to and from pharmacies that currently occurs in many clinics related to questions about individual prescriptions, which can unnecessarily delay a patient at the pharmacy. 

"Pharmacy wait times should be much shorter, and may be eliminated entirely," according to John Gates, R. Ph., district manager for Aurora Pharmacy. "Ideally, your prescription would be ready when you arrive."

Return on Investment
The TouchWorks suite of applications will also help Aurora save money for their patients and health care overall. According to the 2000 Institute of Medicine report quoted earlier, for every dollar patients spend on prescription medication, health care overall (including providers and payors) spends an additional dollar, on average, to pay for treatment related to medication errors. Aurora believes that in addition to the savings realized through increased efficiencies, there will be significant savings to consumers and payors associated with the prevention of medication errors. 

TouchWorks will integrate with Aurora's current IDX practice management software. Aurora Healthcare has utilized IDX Systems Corporation's IDXtend® business performance solutions, including Billing and Accounts Receivable and Enterprise-wide Scheduling, since 1997. 


MobileInfo Advisory & Comments: Use of mobile technology will definitely help in reducing human errors and therefore incorrect medication being prescribed. We are still in the early phase of exploiting wireless and handheld applications in healthcare.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.