Soundview Medical Associates chooses Allscripts' EHR and PM for better management

Allscripts announced today that Soundview Medical Associates has selected Allscripts Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Practice Management (PM) to enhance the quality of the care delivered by its 22 physicians, improve patient communications, and better manage the cost of care delivery.

Soundview has used the Misys Tiger® practice management solution since 1998 and wanted an Electronic Health Record that would integrate seamlessly with the administrative billing and scheduling system. Allscripts merged with Misys Healthcare in October 2008.

"When Allscripts and Misys joined forces, we immediately took a long look at the Allscripts electronic health record, not only because we have a lot invested in our practice management system but because no other EHR could integrate with that system and its years of accumulated patient information as seamlessly as Allscripts," said Eileen Smith, Executive Director of Soundview Medical Associates. "Once our physicians decided they wanted the Allscripts EHR, we realized it made sense to upgrade to their latest practice management solution as well. We're confident that the integrated solution will improve our ability to offer safe, quality health care for our patients and do so in the most efficient and cost effective manner."

Smith said Soundview's physicians selected Allscripts for its "user friendly interface," its reputation for reliability and its ability to seamlessly integrate the clinical and business aspects of the practice.

Integration with Hospital Information

Soundview plans to establish connectivity between the new system and key information systems at Norwalk Hospital, a 328-bed private not-for-profit acute-care community hospital that is a teaching affiliate of the Yale University School of Medicine.

"Our goal is to provide state-of-the-art care for the patients of the Norwalk region, and Allscripts is helping us get there with capabilities like connectivity to Norwalk hospital's clinical information systems so our providers have all the information needed, whether from other physicians or the hospital, to provide true continuity of care for better health results," said Smith.

Achieving "Medical Home" Status

Smith added that the Electronic Health Record's ability to share information with other IT systems and between its providers will help Soundview qualify as a "Patient Centered Medical Home" (PCMH). This designation, available to physician groups through the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), is built upon emerging practice standards that seek to strengthen the physician-patient relationship by replacing episodic care based on illnesses and patient complaints with coordinated care and a long-term healing relationship. The PCMH model of care requires technology such as the Electronic Health Record that integrates information from hospitals, physician offices, post-acute facilities and other care settings into a single system to support comprehensive, coordinated patient care.

"Soundview's selection of Allscripts confirms the strength of our electronic health record and practice management solution and its growing appeal to the 110,000 physicians nationwide who use our Misys solutions," said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. "As our nation continues to look for ways to improve our healthcare system, it is organizations like Soundview that are leading the way by leveraging technology to take their practice to the next level and achieving meaningful results like those supported by the patient centered medical home model."