Optio Healthcare Introduces Solution to Accelerate Chart Completion

Company Also Unveils Electronic Patient Signature Capture Solution to Streamline Document-Intensive Processes


SAN DIEGO, Oct. 17, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- American Health Information Management Association Annual Convention & Exhibit, Optio Booth No. 324 -- Optio(r) Software, Inc. (OTCBB:OPTO) today introduces its new Optio QuickRecord(r) Chart Completion(tm) solution to help health information management (HIM) departments automate and accelerate the resolution of chart deficiencies to comply with hospital quality standards and regulatory requirements.

Optio is demonstrating for the first time the new QuickRecord Chart Completion solution at the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Convention this week in San Diego. At the same event, the company is also introducing its new Optio Patient Signature Capture(tm) solution.

"Optio QuickRecord Chart Completion enables HIM staff to electronically manage record deficiencies much faster and more effectively than traditional manual methods," said Faye Olson, manager of Health Information Management at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta.

Part of Optio's integrated suite of QuickRecord electronic health record (EHR) solutions, Chart Completion enables HIM departments to streamline the processing of charts prior to or in parallel with coding. The Chart Completion solution:



 -- Enables the assignment of charts to analysts

 -- Automatically recognizes chart deficiencies

 -- Monitors timeframes as dictated by JCAHO regulatory requirements
    and hospital quality assurance policies

 -- Allows parallel processing of chart documents by coding and chart
    analysts prior to the completion of the entire chart

 -- Sends status notifications of pending delinquent charts to
    physicians

 -- Produces a full set of status reports, including delinquent charts
    sorted by physician, activity report by analyst and assignment of
    charts to quality assurance (QA)

Automated capture of patient signatures

This week at AHIMA, Optio also unveils a new solution that enables patients to electronically sign documents using an e-signature tablet at the point of registration. Patients can view and immediately receive their printed copy of the signed documents. When the patient electronically signs a form, Optio Patient Signature Capture securely binds the signature to an electronic copy of the document and automatically passes the signed document to the hospital's document management system, eliminating the scanning process and the need to store paper forms.

The Optio Patient Signature Capture solution enables hospitals to:



 -- Capture patient signatures and securely bond them with electronic 
    documents

 -- Seamlessly deliver signed documents to document management and  
    EHR/EMR systems

 -- Utilize portable e-signature capture clipboard tablets that can 
    accommodate up to 16 pages of documents requiring signature

 -- Provide patients with the ability to view and receive the full  
    document requiring signature, eliminating concerns about signing a 
    document without full review 

"Optio Patient Signature Capture is another significant step toward achieving a more efficient, paperless and patient-friendly registration process and a totally electronic health record," said Elaine O'Bleness, director of a four-hospital health information services department for Banner Health in Colorado. O'Bleness will give her presentation, "Meeting Health Information Management Challenges in a Community Health Environment," at this year's National AHIMA Conference on Tues., Oct. 18.

About Optio Healthcare Solutions

More than 700 healthcare organizations use Optio forms automation and electronic health record solutions to reduce costs, streamline document-driven processes and improve patient safety. For more information, visit the new Optio Healthcare Solutions website at www.optiohealthcare.com.

About Optio Software, Inc.

More than 5,000 companies use Optio solutions to achieve unprecedented speed, accuracy, functionality and quality in their inbound and outbound document processes and extend their enterprise resource planning (ERP) and hospital information systems (HIS) applications. Founded in 1981, Optio Software maintains world headquarters in Alpharetta, Ga., with Europe, Middle East and Africa headquarters in Paris and sales offices in Germany and the United Kingdom. More information about Optio Software (OTCBB:OPTO) is available at www.OptioSoftware.com.

(c) Copyright 2005, Optio Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Optio is a registered trademark and Optio Imaging Solutions is a trademark of Optio Software, Inc. Other companies and products mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.



            

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