SAN DIEGO, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharp Community Medical Group (SCMG) has become the first IPA in the nation to roll out an innovative implementation of Allscripts Enterprise Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Practice Management (PM) solution. The system, called SCMG Connect, will use a unique architecture to automate and connect clinical and administrative processes for SCMG's 700 physician members and affiliates to better serve the network's more than 156,000 managed care patients.
According to John Jenrette, MD, CEO of SCMG, SCMG Connect generates a single medical record for each patient even if seen at different practices by primary and specialist physicians. This secure and confidential common patient record becomes accessible in real time to all SCMG network-affiliated physicians and includes doctors' notes, as well as radiology and laboratory results and medications.
"SCMG Connect enables SCMG's physicians to instantly access patient information when and where they need it -- in their practices, at the hospital or while on-call at home," said Jenrette. "The web-based solution speeds and automates everyday clinical tasks such as prescribing and refilling medications, ordering and viewing tests, and documenting care. This dramatically enhances the portability of patient records, while maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality."
Jenrette emphasized that the portability and confidentiality built into the Allscripts Electronic Health Record is consistent with the California Regional Health Information Organization's collaborative effort to incrementally build the structure and capabilities necessary for a secure statewide health information exchange system that enables California's health care providers and patients to access vital medical information at the time and place it is needed.
Additionally, offices that adopt SCMG Connect will use Allscripts practice management software that utilizes sophisticated scheduling and financial management tools in a single package with advanced functionality such as rule-based appointment scheduling, multi-resource and recurring appointment features, referral and eligibility indicators, and appointment and claims management.
"Our physicians are dedicated to delivering the best possible patient care as efficiently as possible, and Allscripts has proven they can deliver the tools to help physicians do just that," said Christopher McGlone, Chief Operating Officer of SCMG. "We're excited to be able to offer this integrated solution to our physicians, many of them in smaller practices who may feel they can't afford a full Electronic Health Record system but who want the benefits of patient safety, efficiency and connectivity to the entire SCMG network of physicians."
Allscripts Chief Executive Officer Glen Tullman commented, "We are proud to have SCMG, the largest IPA in the San Diego community, launch Enterprise Electronic Health Record and become part of a growing list of IPAs that are rolling out our solutions to help their physicians and other caregivers deliver higher quality care in a more cost effective fashion."
About Sharp Community Medical Group
Sharp Community Medical Group is an association of private practice primary care physicians and specialists who practice in their own private offices located conveniently throughout San Diego County. The Sharp Community Medical Group network includes over 700 primary care and specialty physicians who currently provide care to more than 156,000 managed care patients. For additional information visit SCMG online at http://www.scmg.org.
About Allscripts
Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX) uses innovation technology to bring health to healthcare. More than 150,000 physicians, 700 hospitals and nearly 7,000 post-acute and homecare organizations utilize Allscripts to improve the health of their patients and their bottom line. The company's award-winning solutions include electronic health record, electronic prescribing, revenue cycle management, practice management, document management, medication services, hospital care management, emergency department information systems and homecare automation. Allscripts is the brand name of Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, Inc. To learn more, visit http://www.allscripts.com.
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SOURCE Sharp Community Medical Group
