CONCORD, N.C., RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. and SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- NorthEast Medical Center, one of the top 100 teaching hospitals in the nation, has deployed a combination of mobile and online technology including the Epocrates Rx Online(TM) + AHFS(R) DI hospital clinical reference and formulary application, and an integrated mobile solution comprised of the MData(R) Enterprise System from MercuryMD and the Epocrates Rx(R) and Epocrates Rx Pro(TM) drug reference applications.
By combining MData with the Epocrates drug reference and formulary applications, clinicians can now launch into the Epocrates comprehensive drug and clinical reference guide directly from a patient's medication list, and access their hospital's unique drug formulary directly from their mobile device -- all while in the context of a specific patient, saving the clinician valuable time by eliminating the need to separately look up hospital-approved drugs and by reducing extra data entry. Most importantly, patient care and safety is enhanced by having access to up-to-date drug information, including interactions, along with patient specific data, at the point-of-care.
"Choosing to implement Epocrates handheld solutions within the hospital setting makes sense given the sizable network of clinicians who respect its content and value its objectivity and ease-of-use. Add to that the interoperability with MercuryMD's mobile data system and the result is a comprehensive reference at the point-of-care," said Jeff Patchett, pharmacy director, NorthEast Medical Center.
"NorthEast Medical Center is a great example of an organization that has aligned hospital and physician priorities using information technology. Through Epocrates integration with MData, NorthEast provides its physicians with popular and valuable mobile solutions, while maximizing the efficiency and patient care goals that enhance hospital performance," said Alan Ying, chief executive officer for MercuryMD.
Additionally, having access via desktop to the integrated formulary and drug information combined with the in-depth AHFS DI information will greatly assist clinicians and pharmacists in enhancing the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of care for our patients, according to Patchett.
The EPocrates Rx Online(TM) + AHFS(R) DI application is the result of a partnership with the American Society Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and enables hospitals to integrate their formulary information with the user-friendly Epocrates Rx Online(TM) application, and the authoritative drug reference AHFS Drug Information, resulting in a single, comprehensive database. It is available throughout participating hospitals via Internet-connected desktop computers, and requires little or no IT resources to set up.
"It's been five years since the Institute of Medicine issued its report warning that outdated safety practices were resulting in widespread medical errors. Many of the technology solutions put forward to address this are cost prohibitive or otherwise difficult to implement. Epocrates mobile clinical references offer a cost effective, immediate way to reduce medication errors and enhance patient safety and care," said Kirk Loevner, CEO, Epocrates. "NorthEast Medical Center is a regional health care leader and with its decision to deploy Epocrates, will be able to deliver an even greater level of patient care."
About Epocrates, Inc.
San Mateo, CA-based Epocrates Inc. is the leading provider of clinical information at the point of care, with more than 420,000 health care professionals, including over 25 percent of U.S. physicians, actively using its products. Epocrates' product offering is led by the Epocrates(R) Essentials mobile clinical reference suite featuring all of the key decision support applications-drugs, diseases, and diagnostics -- required for today's health care professional. The Epocrates Rx(R) and Epocrates Rx Pro(TM) drug reference products are the most widely used in the industry, by individual clinicians and by medical groups, hospitals, universities and medical libraries. Epocrates also provides formulary information from health plans, hospitals, Medicaid agencies and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies that represent over 95 million individuals, and messaging and market research services. For more information, visit http://www.epocrates.com/.
About MercuryMD
MercuryMD is a private, healthcare-focused software company that provides hospitals with mobile technology solutions to improve clinical workflow and operational efficiencies. Its MData(R) Enterprise System offers hospitals a mobile technology foundation to provide clinicians with anytime access to current and comprehensive clinical data, as well as a full suite of enterprise modules, enabling clinicians to transform information into action. MercuryMD's mobile applications support both Palm OS(R) and Pocket PC devices. For more information visit http://www.mercurymd.com/.
About NorthEast Medical Center
NorthEast Medical Center is a regional 457-bed, not-for-profit medical center, with a reputation for excellence built on advanced technology, medical staff talent, quality, and compassionate care. Solucient, http://www.solucient.com/ a leading healthcare information company, has named NorthEast Medical Center to its 100 Top Hospitals(R) list under the category of "Teaching Hospitals". HealthGrades, http://www.healthgrades.com/ a leading healthcare information company has rated NorthEast Medical Center as best in the Charlotte, Hickory, Concord and Gastonia region for overall cardiovascular care. In addition, HealthGrades has awarded the highest, five-star rating to maternity services at NorthEast Medical Center through its annual obstetric care report card. Based in Concord, North Carolina, NorthEast Medical Center has 3,600 employees serving in more than 26 facilities located throughout the region. For more information, visit http://www.northeastmedical.org/.
NOTE: MercuryMD, Inc. All rights reserved. The MercuryMD logo, MercuryMD, Data is the difference, MData Enterprise System, and MData are registered trademarks of MercuryMD, Inc
Epocrates, Inc.CONTACT: Katherine Thornberry of Epocrates, Inc., +1-650-227-1713, orkthornberry@epocrates.com; or Rob Johnson of MercuryMD, +1-919-806-1700,ext. 392, or rob.johnson@mercurymd.com; or Lee Brower of Northeast MedicalCenter, +1-704-783-1449, or lbrower@northeastmedical.org
Web site: http://www.mercurymd.com/
Web site: http://www.northeastmedical.org/
Web site: http://www.epocrates.com/