Release Will Decrease EMR Pricing and Increase Technology Adoption
(PRWEB) June 7, 2004 -- e-MDs announced today upcoming plans to offer its medication database free of charge to the public, via a sponsoring organization like the AMA or an open source initiative.
Dr. David Winn, CEO of e-MDs, commented, "Our in-house staff of pharmacists developed this database, which includes over 30,000 medications by NDC classification and includes drug-drug and drug-allergy interactions, over the last five years at a cost of over 1.2 million dollars. We originally created this database because we felt the initial and on-going costs of utilizing other medication databases would be cost prohibitive for physicians purchasing our EMR solution. While we believe many of the medication database vendors have very fine products, the costs to license their content may in some cases adversely affect the overall cost of electronic medical record systems (EMRs). Our rationale for providing our medication database either as an open source product, or as a royalty free license, is to enable healthcare organizations and other EMR vendors to eliminate the royalty costs they must pay to license medication content and allow them to pass that savings on to their customers. Our ultimate goal is to help speed the adoption of this life saving technology."
The company is currently in discussions with major medical organizations and the Open Source Software Initiative (OSSI) regarding adoption and maintenance of the database. Depending on the outcomes of those discussions, e-MDs hopes to have the database generally available for download from e-MDs or a hosting entity by mid July. As currently planned, e-MDs staff of pharmacists will continue to maintain the database and validate new entries until such time as it is officially adopted by one of these sponsoring organizations.
"I imagine many will question why we would make this available to our competitors" said Joel Andersen, e-MDs' Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Simply put, we believe our EMR solution is one of the best in the industry, but we also believe that one size does not fit all. If we can help reduce the cost of acquiring an EMR solution for physicians, whether that solution is ours or a competitive solution, then the medical community and patient care benefit as a whole. That is the mission that Dr. Winn has instituted at e-MDs, and this is yet another example of our commitment to that mission."
About e-MDs
e-MDs is a medical software developer offering e-MDs Solution Series, an integrated line of clinical and financial software modules designed to automate medical practice processes and chart management. With their goal of improving patient care, decreasing physician errors, and increasing practice income, e-MDs has enjoyed one of the most rapid growths in the industry and now has over 1,350 offices nationwide using their products. Their sales growth is testament to a zealous focus on building the finest integrated EMR and practice management system, and offering it at a price any office can afford. For more information on e-MDs medication database please visit www.e-MDs.com.
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