Epocrates,
a developer of medical reference software, has expanded its offerings into the EHR
(electronic health record) space. Medical practices of 10 or fewer physicians
can now access its health record application on the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch
and from the Web.
The company
announced the application, called Epocrates EHR, July 27.
The SaaS
(software as a service) product will allow doctors to record notes from patient
exams, integrate data from labs and prescribe medication electronically. A Task
Manager appears on all screens in the software to helps doctors manage their
workflow. They can use the tool to manage email, refill prescriptions and order
lab tests.
Remotely,
doctors can access patient records and schedule appointments. Epocrates also
provides a reference database on diseases and prescription drugs.
In addition,
the vendor offers educational tools related to codes and
medical terms and allows doctors to check for drug interactions. The vendor
links its mobile applications to Walgreens' discount medication list.
In the initial
rollout of its EHR software, Epocrates will focus on small physician practices.
"Based on our decade-long legacy of developing point-of-care solutions, we
are in an ideal position to systematically build and introduce a solution
geared toward the needs of solo and small group practices," Rose Crane,
president and CEO of Epocrates, said in a statement.
In product
updates, Epocrates will add additional functionality based on the federal
government's meaningful-use guidelines. "In future phases, we will
introduce capabilities that support and engage patients, such as the patient
portal, and other features that align with the meaningful-use criteria,"
Crane wrote in an email to eWEEK.
In November Epocrates acquired Modality, a health care
software developer, to enhance its presence on the Apple iOS platform. Although
the company was unable to give a timeline, it also plans versions for the iPad
and Google Android devices.
"We will
design for each digital platform based on what makes sense with the physician's
workflow. For example, physicians may view charts on their iPhone, choose from
drop-down menus on the iPad and type online to enter charts," Crane said.
Epocrates
encrypts all patient data and stores it in multiple server locations, the
company reports.
When building
its EHR software, Epocrates sought feedback from users of its other health care
applications. "We have incorporated physician feedback throughout the
development process to ensure every design element fits easily into the
physicians' workflow and contributes to better patient outcomes," Crane
said. "We can envision a future where our EHR solution is the nucleus of
physician and patient communication and education."
The
text-to-speech features of DrChrono's EHR app for the iPad are also designed
to limit interruptions during patient exams and improve communication between
doctors and patients.
As physicians
adopt EHR applications to satisfy federal mandates on meaningful use of health
records, the software may not necessarily improve the quality of patient care,
according to a recent report by Stanford University researchers.
Still, both
mobile technology and EHRs will lead to 24 percent growth in health care IT,
research firm RNCOS reports.
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