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Surescripts
ALEXANDRIA, Va., and ST. PAUL, Minn. - August 24, 2010 - Surescripts applauds the administration for the release of a report entitled "The Recovery Act: Transforming the American Economy Through Innovation." Earlier today, Vice President Joe Biden used the report to highlight the progress of federalprivate sector partnerships with industries such as healthcare, transportation and energy. In a section labeled "Building a Platform for Private Sector Innovation," the report detailed significant progress with health information technology and e-prescribing.
"There is no greater example of what investing in innovation can do for America than health information technology and, more specifically, e-prescribing," said Harry Totonis, president and CEO of Surescripts and a guest at the Vice President's announcement. "By providing extensive support for standards testing
and adoption and by offering a mix of incentives - today through MIPPA and tomorrow as part of the Recovery Act - the government has played a leading role in encouraging the adoption of e-prescribing. This, along with the collaboration between Surescripts and the nation's pharmacies, payers, physicians
and technology vendors has produced significant results: In the last 18 months, e-prescribing has grown from 12 to 32 percent of all office-based prescribers in the U.S. and from 76 to 90 percent of retail pharmacies. The report goes further to recognize the greater benefit of e-prescribing and the sharing of medication information -- saving lives, time and money and improving the quality of care.
"But e-prescribing and medications are just one component of an overall electronic health record. More innovation is required. We must develop a more efficient, secure and reliable means of sharing a broader set of valued health information for continued, meaningful improvements in care."
For a copy of the report, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/recovery/innovations/intro.
About Surescripts
Surescripts operates the nation's largest e-prescription network and supports a rapidly expanding ecosystem of healthcare organizations nationwide. Surescripts was founded on the principles of neutrality, transparency, interoperability, efficiency, collaboration and quality. Surescripts connect prescribers in all 50 states through their choice of e-prescribing software to the nation's leading payers, chain pharmacies and independent pharmacies. Available during emergencies or routine care, The Nation's E-Prescription Network gives healthcare providers secure, low-cost, electronic access to prescription and health information that can save their patients' lives, improve efficiency and reduce the cost of healthcare for all. For more information, go to www.surescripts.com.