LOS ANGELES, Feb. 14, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- PracticeXpert, Inc. (OTCBB:PXPT) announced today that PracticeOne, a PracticeXpert company, has released a full upgrade version of its electronic medical record (EMR) system, PracticeOne Clinical 4.0. This product release represents a substantial advance in the technology and capabilities of its previous version of the EMR system.
"The release of Clinical 4.0 is a definitive step in the implementation of our product strategy," said Zima Hartz, EVP for product development. "As the system that drives workflow and clinical information in the physician practice, EMR becomes the gateway to all other systems and services provided by PracticeXpert. Clinical 4.0 is the key to driving growth in all of our product and service lines of business," Hartz explained.
According to Mark Richards, VP sales for PracticeXpert, immediate deployment of the upgrade is expected with existing Clinical EMR system customers, who have been anticipating many of the new features now available in this release, including the browser-based interface, customizable tabs, more flexible progress notes, and a host of other productivity and workflow features. Plus, with the .NET framework fully implemented, Clinical 4.0 is positioned very competitively in the EMR systems market. "Between the explosive growth in EMR implementations and our timing of this upgrade we anticipate a doubling of PracticeXpert's EMR sales in 2005, as well as complementary growth in the sales of our practice management system and revenue management services," Richards said.
Web-Enabled with Microsoft .NET Technology
Clinical 4.0 includes a full implementation of the Microsoft .NET framework, which supports unprecedented access by physicians and clinical staff to patient records in a highly secure, fully HIPAA-compliant environment. Via a browser interface, users can access the entire chart for any patient with the full capabilities for documenting visits, prescribing meds, ordering labs-both in the office and from remote locations anywhere an Internet connection is available.
"This is a true thin-client system, meaning that the full capabilities of the EMR system are easily accessible from anywhere via a web browser," stated Stephen Dart, VP for product development at PracticeOne. "This is especially powerful for physicians who work from a variety of locations and need to access the latest patient chart information, even add to it," Dart explained.
Regardless of where the system is accessed, the interface screens are exactly the same-whether in the office, from a workstation at the hospital or the physician's laptop at home or on the road-accessing patient charts is routine and seamless. As physicians increasingly rely on computer-based systems for all patient chart information, "anywhere anytime" is essential capability in a state-of-the-art EMR system.
Full-Featured, Customizable EMR
Clinical 4.0 is a full-version upgrade of PracticeOne's successful EMR system and adds a variety of new features. In addition to the core functions of managing medical history, allergies, medications and other routine medical information, the system provides a platform for daily operations in a medical practice-documenting visits, prescribing medications, ordering labs and so on.
"Clinical 4.0 incorporates many features our customers have suggested and that are now possible with the technological advances now built in to the system. And with the extensive customization that is possible at the individual practice level, we expect users will find clinical 4.0 to be one of the most user-friendly EMR systems available today," Richards said.
Screen layouts used by the physician, medical staff and others, can be tailored to the way each works and prefers to access and see information displayed. Ease of use is emphasized throughout Clinical 4.0, with features like the ability to review an entire chart on a single screen.
Building on the robust technology platform of previous releases, Clinical 4.0 adds new technology features that keep it on the forefront of EMR systems. In addition to its Oracle database platform, Clinical 4.0 implements the Microsoft .NET framework and uses XML, HL7 and SSL components. Web services are used in key areas for ease of deployment and easily adding new feature sets from third-party data providers.
Streamlined Workflow & Tools
Clinical 4.0 incorporates a number of tools and features that facilitate the smooth flow of information, supporting efficient workflows in a medical office. Staff tasks and messages can be easily initiated, managed and routed via the system. In addition workflow tools enable the system to mirror the flow of patients through the office, "passing" pertinent chart information to each staff member as the patient transitions through the office visit.
Also included is an evaluation and management (E&M) coder that automatically recommends an E&M code based on the encounter data in the system. This patented feature produces E&M codes that are guaranteed to be accurate.
The system has complete flexibility to incorporate into a patient chart a wide variety of documents and information that originate outside the system, such as e-mail, faxes, lab results, imaging and other documents. In addition, a scanned image of any document or image can be appended.
Full Back Office Integration
Combined with PracticeOne's e-Medsys practice management system, Clinical 4.0 provides a total practice automation solution. Patient chart information captured in Clinical 4.0 moves seamlessly to e-Medsys for billing and collections processing. Additionally, patient schedule information can be viewed and updated in both the Clinical 4.0 and e-Medsys screens.
Value-Added Services
Each implementation of Clinical 4.0 in a physician practice includes user training and a project management team that handles installation and data conversion from legacy systems. Now, through the PracticeXpert practice management consulting division, Clinical 4.0 users have the option of accessing experts who can assist in realizing the full capabilities of the system. PracticeXpert's nationwide group of consultants has medical specialty-specific expertise and can assist with properly configuring Clinical 4.0 to match the individual work flow and processes in the physician's office, thereby maximizing the benefit and value to the practice.
"There's no more powerful a combination than expertise and a capable system," said David Pack, COO for PracticeOne. "Our customers can now realize the full benefits and ROI of EMR faster than ever and probably more economically than they imagine."
Clinical 4.0 is the result of over a decade of experience at PracticeOne developing and installing EMR systems. "Customers implementing Clinical 4.0 get the benefit of the latest and most sophisticated technology at the same time they have the assurance that this is a stable system with the refinements that come from years of actual use in physicians' offices," Pack explained.
The development of Clinical 4.0 began in March 2003 and has been in beta test since August 2004. The system is available for immediate implementation.
About PracticeXpert, Inc.
PracticeXpert provides turn-key practice management services and technology solutions to medical practitioners that improve operational efficiencies and enhance cash flow. PracticeXpert offerings include medical billing, accounts receivable management, practice management, transcription, consulting, seminars, practice management software, electronic medical records software and related services. PracticeXpert bundles its technology applications with its billing and other practice management services to provide a complete and integrated solution to its physician customers. To find out more about PracticeXpert, Inc. (OTCBB:PXPT), visit our website at www.practicexpert.com.
Note: Any statements released by PracticeXpert, Inc. that are forward- looking, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Editors and investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements invoke risk and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business prospects and performances. These include economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors discussed in the statements and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.