Cancer Centers of North Carolina - Asheville Implements iKnowMed™ Electronic Medical Record (EMR) From US Oncology

THE WOODLANDS, Texas and ASHEVILLE, N.C., Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer Centers of North Carolina - Asheville (CCNCA), an affiliate of the United Network of US Oncology with two practices serving North Carolina, today announced that it has implemented iKnowMed™ EMR for its electronic medical record (EMR) system. iKnowMed EMR is a product of US Oncology, Inc., a leading integrated oncology company.

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iKnowMed is an oncology-specific EMR developed by oncologists to meet the unique needs of cancer patients and oncology practices. Physicians at Cancer Centers of North Carolina - Asheville now have 24/7 immediate access to comprehensive patient charts, detailed cancer diagnosis and staging content, and an extensive up-to-date cancer regimen library that allows them to make treatment decisions from anywhere at any time, without the need of a patient's paper record.

"We chose iKnowMed EMR because it's a powerful Web-based EMR designed exclusively for cancer care. iKnowMed leverages the insight and knowledge of community-based oncology physician practices across the country and is continually updated to meet the evolving demands of the cancer care industry," says Don Jackson, M.D., medical oncologist with CCNCA. "They provide us with ongoing product development and support. It's a true partnership. We believe iKnowMed EMR will help us maintain our high-level of quality patient care while keeping us ahead of the curve as a state-of-the-art cancer care clinic and the premier choice of cancer patients in Asheville."

iKnowMed EMR further enhances patient safety in the practice through the elimination of handwritten notes and orders, which minimizes misinterpretations, and through safety alerts generated through the system when it detects possible medication conflicts or high toxicity levels. The system also has the ability to identify patients for appropriate clinical trials available at the practice and suggest evidence-based treatment options with point-of-care decision support.

"Patient safety is of the utmost concern in cancer care," says Dr. Jackson. "We're excited to offer our patients increased safety and patient care through iKnowMed EMR. This new system will help us enhance the quality of care we provide to every patient and allow our staff to operate more efficiently, which will enhance the overall patient experience here at Cancer Centers of North Carolina – Asheville."

Nurses at Cancer Centers of North Carolina - Asheville will now have access to streamlined documentation through iKnowMed EMR, allowing them to easily manage patient charts, lab results and changes in regimen schedules. Pharmacists at the practice benefit from the automated chemotherapy ordering, scheduling and management, allowing them to quickly and accurately mix therapies and account for supplies, drugs dispensed and billable waste. All clinicians benefit from the single-screen views allowing for quick referencing of each patient's diagnosis, lab visits, trending lab results and prior and future treatment information which allows the practice to more easily manage each patient throughout the treatment continuum.

For more information about Cancer Centers of North Carolina - Asheville, call (828) 254-8232. To find out more about the iKnowMed EMR system, call (866) 216-5053 or visit www.iknowmed.com.

About Cancer Centers of North Carolina – Asheville

At Cancer Centers of North Carolina - Asheville, we believe the most important aspect of our job isn't just state of the art, high quality cancer care and treatment; it is also to provide excellent, integrated patient-centered care. Serving Western North Carolina for more than 25 years, Cancer Centers of North Carolina – Asheville is a private oncology practice lead by five medical oncologists and hematologists and a radiation oncologist, and they are supported by their team of oncology-certified nurses and friendly administrative staff. Our 24,000 square-foot facility is Western North Carolina's first and only private cancer center offering comprehensive and integrated cancer care, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, chemotherapy, diagnostic CT imaging, a pharmacy, and a progressive laboratory all in one convenient, easy-to-access location. This comprehensive cancer model improves patient access to advanced care, increases collaboration amongst cancer specialists, and ultimately decreases costs. For more information about our physicians or services, please visit our website www.nomountain2high.com.  

Cancer Centers of North Carolina – Ashville (CCNCA) is united in healing with US Oncology, a leading integrated oncology company uniting one of the nation's largest community-based cancer treatment and research networks. As an affiliate of the United Network of US Oncology, CCNCA is united with more than 1,100 physicians and 10,000 cancer professionals nationwide. Through the US Oncology Research Network, CCNCA  participates in clinical trials and has helped develop 43 FDA approved cancer therapies.

About US Oncology

US Oncology, Inc., a division of McKesson Corporation, is a leading integrated oncology company. By uniting one of the largest community-based cancer treatment and research networks in America, US Oncology expands patient access to high-quality care and advances the science of cancer care. Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, US Oncology is affiliated with 1,400 community-based oncologists, and works with patients, hospitals, payers, and the medical industry across all phases of the cancer research and delivery continuum. By promoting the use of innovative technology, clinical research, evidence-based medicine and shared best practices, US Oncology improves patient outcomes and offers a better patient experience. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.

About iKnowMed™ Electronic Health Record (EMR) system

US Oncology leverages the innovation of iKnowMed EMR, a Web-based oncology-specific system designed by oncologists to enhance the patient experience and advance the science of cancer care. Developed in 1996 and acquired by US Oncology in 2004, iKnowMed EMR goes beyond delivering standard features by leveraging technology that helps physicians focus on clinical excellence and cost-effectiveness in community cancer care. With nearly 900,000 patient records, 6,800 concurrent users and more than 900 oncology providers, the system provides insight into quality patient care, and serves as a decision support tool at the point of care by providing staging and diagnosis suggestions according to criteria from the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). The system also allows access to US Oncology's Level I Pathways -- evidence-based medicine -- and screens new patients for potential clinical trial eligibility for open trials available at the practice. For more information call (866) 216-5053 or visit www.iKnowMed.com.

SOURCE US Oncology, Inc.