iKnowMed™ Electronic Health Record (EHR) System Receives ONC-ATCB Certification by Drummond Group

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- iKnowMed (version 6.3), a product of McKesson Specialty Care Solutions | US Oncology, has received the federal government's "Meaningful Use" stamp of approval by earning Complete EHR Certification for use by customers demonstrating Stage I Meaningful Use. iKnowMed is an oncology-specific EHR developed by oncologists to meet the unique needs of cancer patients and community-based oncology practices. The Complete Meaningful Use Certification designation officially deems iKnowMed capable of enabling providers to qualify for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Tested and certified under the Drummond Group's Electronic Health Records Office of the National Coordinator Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) program, the EHR software is 2011/2012 compliant in accordance with the criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

"iKnowMed has been rated as a top-ranked EHR, but this government certification further validates that iKnowMed can help providers improve cancer care in their communities," said Roy Beveridge, MD, chief medical officer, McKesson Specialty Care Solutions | US Oncology. "By utilizing iKnowMed's capabilities, healthcare providers can make significant care improvements, achieve Meaningful Use and qualify for incentive funds under ARRA. This is an exciting accomplishment for us, and we are proud to offer iKnowMed to oncology practices across the country."

To help iKnowMed users qualify for incentive payments under the ARRA, McKesson Specialty Care Solutions | US Oncology has also launched a number of Meaningful Use resources, project management tools and educational materials that walk users through the process changes that are required to meet Meaningful Use.

Drummond Group's ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification program tests and certifies that EHRs meet the Meaningful Use criteria for either eligible provider or hospital technology. In turn, healthcare providers using certified EHR systems are qualified to receive federal stimulus monies upon demonstrating Meaningful Use of the technology -- a key component of the federal government's push to improve clinical care delivery through the adoption and effective use of EHRs by U.S. healthcare providers.

"The need to leverage information technology in the healthcare industry is huge – as the quality of care and efficiency benefits that come with computerization can really make a difference in the overall patient experience. We're ready to help transform the industry by providing the sophisticated software testing services that ensure that vendors and providers are offering systems that are capable of meeting the Meaningful Use standards required to obtain incentive funds as well as the rich functionality required to move the clinical care needle forward," says Rik Drummond, CEO of the Drummond Group. "We have been testing software for more than a decade and are ready to leverage our extensive experience handling sophisticated systems in complex industries as well as dealing with complicated technical issues such as interoperability and security."

Currently, iKnowMed is implemented in more than 200 sites nationwide. The web-based EHR allows physicians to 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. iKnowMed EHR further enhances patient safety in the practice through the elimination of handwritten notes and drug orders, which minimizes inaccuracies, and through safety alerts generated through the system when it detects possible medication conflicts or high toxicity levels in each patient. 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.

iKnowMed EHR version 6.3 was certified on June 30, 2011. Certification ID number 06302011-8844-1 for Clinical Quality Measures: NQF0013, NQF0024, NQF0028, NQF0038, NQF0041, NQF0385, NQF0387, NQF0389, and NQF0421. Additional software relied upon to certify: RelayHealth and Email.

This Complete EHR is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by Drummond Group, an ONC-ATCB approved to certify any complete or modular EHR both ambulatory and inpatient, in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

"Receiving Meaningful Use Certification is just one of many steps McKesson Specialty Care Solutions | US Oncology is taking to enhance iKnowMed," said Asif Ahmad, executive vice president, Information and Technology Services, McKesson Specialty Care Solutions | US Oncology. "This is evident in the integration of top-ranked iKnowMed EHR with Lynx Mobile, McKesson Specialty Care Solutions' leading inventory management, charge capture and reporting solution. This will provide an even more user-friendly clinical workflow application with robust decision support and flexibility that meets the requirements laid out for Meaningful Use Certification."

About McKesson Specialty Care Solutions | US Oncology

McKesson Specialty Care Solutions | US Oncology, a division of McKesson Corporation, empowers the community patient care delivery system to advance the science, technology and quality of care. Through innovative clinical, research, business and operational solutions, facilitated by integrated technology systems, we improve the financial health of our customers and help them provide quality care for patients. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com/specialty and www.usoncology.com.

About iKnowMed™

McKesson Specialty Care Solutions | US Oncology's iKnowMed™ Web-based oncology-specific electronic health record (EHR) system has been designed by oncologists to enhance the patient experience and advance the science of cancer care. iKnowMed goes beyond delivering standard EHR features by leveraging technology that helps physicians focus on clinical excellence and cost-effectiveness in community cancer care. With more than 975,000 patient records; 6,800 concurrent users; and nearly 1,000 provider users, 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.

About Drummond Group

Drummond Group Inc., the trusted software test lab, provides effective and efficient electronic health record (EHR) testing to healthcare information technology vendors and hospitals. As an Office of the National Coordinator Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB), Drummond Group works closely with healthcare software vendors and hospitals to certify EHRs that are looking to qualify for incentive funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  Drummond Group is approved to certify both complete and modular EHR for both ambulatory and inpatient.  Leveraging more than a decade's worth of interoperability, conformance testing and certification experience in multiple industries, Drummond Group delivers what's needed in healthcare: highly reliable and readily affordable software testing services. For more information, go to www.drummondgroup.com.

SOURCE US Oncology