ParkStone Selects IBM to Deliver Hand-Held System to Physicians Nationwide
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Somers, N.Y. - Oct. 31, 2000-ParkStone Medical Information Systems, a leading developer of hand-held tools for physicians, and IBM Global Services today announced the two companies will collaborate to launch a large-scale deployment of ParkStone's point-of-care application to thousands of physicians nationwide this year. A wireless implementation is scheduled for 1Q 2001. This effort will provide physicians with a mobile technology tool that enhances patient care, streamlines traditional paper-based processes, and has the potential to reduce medication errors, at no cost to the physician. "The ParkStone system is a valuable aid to my practice because it increases efficiency and avoids many of the difficulties doctors deal with on a daily basis," said Edward Markovich, M.D., a board-certified internist in Hollywood, Fla. "The software helps reduce potential medication errors, and it gives me the information I need to help with my patient care: it produces a legible prescription, matches patients' prescriptions with their health insurance formulary guidelines, lists medications I've prescribed for them in the past and alerts me to their allergies." ParkStone selected IBM to assess each physician's technology needs, purchase and install all system equipment including personal digital assistants, workstations, printers, infrared eyes for point and click printing, and to provide on-site and Web-based training to physicians and their office staff. In addition to providing deployment and training services, IBM is providing systems integration services for ParkStone, helping to prepare the company's internal systems for geometric growth. "IBM and ParkStone are working together to improve the quality of care without changing the fundamental way physicians practice. Mobile technology can provide a valuable and time-saving approach to the process of prescription writing, specialist referrals and record-keeping," said John H. Johnson, ParkStone president and CEO. "The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has called for the elimination of hand-written prescriptions within three years, and ParkStone is taking a leadership role in helping physicians make the transition to electronic prescribing." Russell J. Ricci, M.D. General Manager IBM Global Healthcare said, "IBM is in the forefront of a movement to promote electronic order entry of prescriptions to improve the quality of care and reduce medication errors. Working with physicians to interface their online patient medication histories to the ParkStone system can potentially help save thousands of lives." ParkStone Medical Information Systems is a leader in the development of wireless, hand-held solutions for physicians. The ParkStone system is designed to electronically prescribe medication on insurance formularies, check drug interactions, refer specialists on insurance plans, schedule patients, capture charges and order lab results. The company recently announced a strategic alliance with Aether Systems Inc. to wirelessly enable the ParkStone solution. ParkStone is a privately held company based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and funded by Oak Investment Partners, Partech International, Cardinal Health Partners and Salix Ventures. For more information about ParkStone Medical Information Systems, Inc., please visit the ParkStone web site at www.parkstonemed.com or contact Sherold Barr 541/343-9623 or sherold@extraordinarywork.com. IBM (NYSE): IBM) is the world's largest technology provider (hardware, software and services) with 1999 revenues of more than $87 billion and is the worldwide leader in e-business solutions. The company has more than 300,000 employees and does business in more than 160 countries. IBM is focused on delivering customized, flexible and scalable Internet solutions for companies of all sizes. Drawing on resources from across IBM and 90,000 IBM Business Partners, IBM's Global Net Generation Business helps Internet Service Providers, Web hosting companies, portals and born-on-the-Web companies establish their businesses and become profitable in Internet time. For more information about IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com. |