CHICAGO and ERIE, Penn., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Allscripts , the leading provider of clinical software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare, today announced that Hamot Medical Center has selected the TouchWorks(TM) Electronic Health Record from Allscripts to connect and automate 50 physicians in 16 practices across the Erie region.

"The Electronic Health Record is a powerful tool to improve the quality of care and practice efficiency while enhancing patient satisfaction," said Jim Reichert, M.D., Ph.D., Physician Leader of the Clinical Information Systems Department at Hamot Medical Center. "With Allscripts, our patients will receive better care and we're confident that they'll recognize and appreciate the difference."

Hamot Medical Center, a 343-bed acute care facility that is part of the Hamot Health Foundation, purchased TouchWorks for its fully-owned physician group, the Hamot Primary Care Network. Together, the groups serve more than 1 million patients in northwestern Pennsylvania, western New York and eastern Ohio.

TouchWorks Electronic Health Record http://www.allscripts.com/prdTWEMR.aspx brings Hamot's physicians instant access to patient information when and where they need it - in the clinic, at the hospital or while on-call at home. TouchWorks speeds and automates everyday clinical tasks such as prescribing and refilling medications, ordering and viewing tests, and documenting care. An easy-to-use and customizable solution, TouchWorks features robust clinical tools that support safe medical practices, including health maintenance alerts, clinical decision support, and automated drug interaction checking.

While the physician network will be the primary users of TouchWorks, Hamot Medical Center Emergency Department physicians and hospitalists also will have access to the Electronic Health Record through a secure, online hospital portal.

"Connectivity offers a number of benefits to patients. On the hospital side, the admitting hospitalist will have access to each patient's medication history and problems list," said Dr. Reichert. "And when a primary care physician asks their patient what medication they received during their hospital visit, they won't have to rely on the patient's memory - they will have the information right there at their fingertips."

Hamot Medical Center selected Allscripts following several years of evaluating Electronic Health Record offerings and visiting several other groups that have successfully implemented the Allscripts solution. Allscripts met the organization's needs, Dr. Reichert said, in part because its modular architecture allows physicians to become accustomed to using the Electronic Health Record one step at a time.

Another selling point, Dr. Reichert said, was Allscripts experience and expertise with practice management solutions. Hamot Medical Center will integrate TouchWorks with the group's Centricity Business, (formerly IDX(R) Flowcast(R)) revenue cycle management system. Allscripts and IDX, now a part of GE Healthcare, share a strategic relationship that directly links clinical and financial information systems to support process redesign and operational enhancements.

"We are proud to partner with Hamot Medical Center to deliver the transformative power of our Electronic Health Record to the physicians of the Hamot Primary Care Network," said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. "Working together, hospitals and physicians today have an unparalleled opportunity to improve the quality and safety of patient care with connective technologies like our Electronic Health Record. By breaking down the information barriers between the hospital and physician's office, we're driving a breakthrough that will improve the healthcare system for all stakeholders."

About Hamot Medical Center

Hamot Medical Center is a 343-bed tertiary care facility located in Erie, PA. Hamot has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Solucient and HealthGrades for their outstanding outcomes in heart care, neurological services, urology, orthopaedics, gerontology and critical care medicine as well as overall clinical excellence. This year Hamot is celebrating its 125th anniversary. More information on Hamot can be found at http://www.hamot.org/.

About Allscripts

Allscripts is the leading provider of clinical software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare. The Company's business groups provide unique solutions that inform, connect and transform healthcare. The Clinical Solutions Group's award-winning software applications include electronic health record, practice management, electronic prescribing, document imaging, emergency department and care management solutions. Additionally, Allscripts provides clinical product education and connectivity solutions for physicians and patients through its Physicians Interactive(TM) Group and medication fulfillment services through its Medication Services Group. To learn more, visit Allscripts on the Web at http://www.allscripts.com/.

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements about Allscripts Healthcare Solutions that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are developed by combining currently available information with Allscripts beliefs and assumptions. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance. Because Allscripts cannot predict all of the risks and uncertainties that may affect it, or control the ones it does predict, Allscripts' actual results may be materially different from the results expressed in its forward-looking statements. For a more complete discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may affect Allscripts, see the Company's 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, available through the Web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov/.

CONTACT: Dan Michelson, Chief Marketing Officer, of Allscripts,
+1-312-506-1217, or dan.michelson@allscripts.com; or Lucia Conti, Manager of
Media Relations-Marketing, of Hamot Medical Center, +1-814-877-2445, or
lucia.conti@hamot.org

Web site: http://www.allscripts.com/
http://www.allscripts.com/prdTWEMR.aspx
http://www.hamot.org/
http://www.sec.gov/