Quest Diagnostics Announces First EHRs Certified Under Laboratory-based Health IT Quality Solutions™ Program

MADISON, N.J., Oct. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced the first electronic health record (EHR) solutions to be certified under its Health IT Quality Solutions™ Program. The program is designed to recognize EHR solutions for achieving quality standards for data management and interoperability with the Quest Diagnostics clinical laboratory data system used by physician practices in the United States. 

"Laboratory data provides a significant basis for healthcare decisions made by clinicians for patients," said Keith C. Drake, Ph.D., Health IT Quality Solutions Program Executive, Quest Diagnostics. "Yet, a lack of clear implementation and interoperability standards by which EHR systems transact and manage laboratory data hampers the ability of physicians to experience fully the capabilities of different EHR solutions. The Quest Diagnostics Health IT Quality Solutions program builds on our expertise as the leading provider of diagnostic testing with significant capability in health information technologies. Through this program, we expect to help assure physicians that the EHR solution they choose will facilitate effective laboratory data interoperability and a quality experience meeting their clinical and business needs."

To date, 20 EHR solutions have been certified as Gold or Silver under the Health IT Quality Solutions Program. These are (listed alphabetically):

• Gold Certified: Aprima PRM; CompuGroup Medical LabDaq; eClinicalWorks ELINCS; Emdeon Clinician; HealthFusion MediTouch EHR; iSalus Healthcare OfficeEMR; LabSoft Lighting; Meditab IMS (Intelligent Medical Software); and Office Ally EHR.
• Silver Certified: Advanced Data Systems DocAssistant; Comtron Corporation Medgen EHR; CyFluent; Data Strategies MDSuite; E*Healthline Phoenix; iPatientCare EMR; MDLand iClinic System; NCG Medical Perfect Care EHRLite; OneTouch EMR, Orchard Software Harvest and Copia; Stratus EMR; Tecnex Systems; and VIP Medicine SmartClinic.

"Our 'freshman class' of Silver and Gold EHR solutions have achieved our criteria for high quality, and we expect to certify additional EHRs, including in the Platinum category, by the end of 2012. We are proud to welcome these exceptional vendors into our program," added Drake.

EHRs are increasingly used by physician practices and other healthcare providers in the United States for the management of clinical patient data, including diagnostic data. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 55% of physicians had adopted an EHR in 2011, and half cited being alerted to a critical lab value as a key EHR benefit.

Vendors of EHR and other clinical technology may qualify for its Silver and Gold certification levels under the Quest Diagnostics program by meeting increasingly stringent criteria for capacity, implementation process, and other factors that deliver clinical and operational quality for physician practices that use Quest Diagnostics for clinical laboratory testing. Silver EHR solutions incorporate advanced functionality for processing lab orders and results; Gold EHR solutions provide enhanced implementation processes as well as advanced functionality. At the Program's elite tier, vendors with Platinum EHR solutions enjoy a strategic alignment of technology and operational best practices with Quest Diagnostics.

For more information on the program, including certification criteria, visit www.QuestDiagnostics.com/QualitySolutions

About Quest Diagnostics and HIT
Quest Diagnostics is a leading provider of health information technologies for managing laboratory data for Internet, computer and mobile technologies.  Approximately 200,000 physicians in the United States use the company's Care360® suite of connectivity products to order lab tests, view results, and share clinical information.  The company also provides award-winning ChartMaxx and Health Information Exchange (HIE) solutions for physicians, hospitals, and government agencies through its MedPlus business. In addition, the Quest Diagnostics Gazelle® mobile application for Blackberry, iPhone and Android smartphones enables patients to take control of their health by providing their health information and the tools to manage their condition.

About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services that patients and doctors need to make better healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services through its network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care. Additional company information is available at QuestDiagnostics.com. Follow us at Facebook.com/QuestDiagnostics and Twitter.com/QuestDX.

Quest, Quest Diagnostics, Focus Diagnostics, any associated logos, and all associated Quest Diagnostics registered or unregistered trademarks are the property of Quest Diagnostics. All third-party marks are the property of their respective owners.

Quest Diagnostics Contacts:
Wendy Bost (Media): 973-520-2800
Kathleen Valentine (Investors): 973-520-2900

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics