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Michigan State Medical Society Collaborates With Microsoft to Expand Health Care Technology in Michigan

Posted on: Wednesday, 17 June 2009, 06:20 CDT

MSMS Connects With HealthVault to Make Health Management Easier and More Effective

EAST LANSING, Mich., June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) today announced a collaboration with Microsoft Corp., Compuware subsidiary Covisint and MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc., to be first in the nation to provide statewide connectivity of medical and pharmacy data for Michigan. Patients and physicians who use the medical society's electronic portal, MSMS Connect, will now have access to critical health care data in one location -- Microsoft HealthVault. This new collaboration expands MSMS' nation-leading effort to help implement electronic health care technology statewide.

Approximately 3.5 million patients in Michigan receive their pharmacy benefits through MedImpact, the nation's largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company that does not sell drugs. Now, patients will be enabled to easily view their prescription information through HealthVault and MSMS Connect. In addition, with patient permission, physicians also will have access to this information through MSMS Connect, enabled through Covisint's cloud-based technologies.

"What an exciting opportunity for physicians and patients in Michigan," said Gregory J. Forzley, MD, chair of the MSMS board of directors. "This puts the patient's medication history at the fingertips of the physician through a simple, secure internet connection into MSMS Connect without the need for electronic prescribing software or an electronic medical record."

"Not only will this help streamline health care delivery, it also offers patients access to their own information so they can work with their physicians to make informed, timely and cost-effective choices," Doctor Forzley said.

"Integrated access to health information is critical for patients and their care providers as they make important health decisions," said James Mault, MD, director of new products and business development for Microsoft's Health Solutions Group. "This collaboration represents a new generation of patient-centered health care services that empowers Michigan physicians with access to their patients' health records to deliver better quality care with greater efficiency, while improving patient health outcomes."

When fully implemented into MSMS Connect, the addition of HealthVault will enable patients to store their individual health data, or their whole family's health record, in one location at no cost. Through HealthVault, which is built on a privacy- and security-enhanced foundation, patients will have complete control over their electronic health data and can give permission to their physicians and other health care providers to view it. Patients can access data from their physicians, health plans, and pharmacies, as well as upload information from medical devices that monitor a number of factors including heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar.

"While everyone in Washington is dreaming about increasing health care technology, MSMS, in collaboration with technology giants Microsoft, Covisint and MedImpact, is making it happen for Michigan physicians and the patients they serve," Doctor Forzley said. "MSMS is working to make health care technology easier to adopt and more effective for all health care stakeholders to use," said Dr. Forzley.

For more information about the medical society's single sign-on electronic portal, MSMS Connect, go to www.msms.org and click on the MSMS Connect icon at the top of the home page.

About Michigan State Medical Society

The Michigan State Medical Society is the professional association of more than 15,000 physicians in Michigan. The mission of the MSMS is to promote a health care environment that supports physicians in caring for and enhancing the health of Michigan citizens through science, quality and ethics in the practice of medicine.

About Covisint

Covisint's on-demand collaboration platform and cloud computing approach helps virtual communities securely access, use and share time sensitive information. Covisint solves business problems by streamlining and automating processes globally -- connecting state and nationally based communities, organizations and systems in the health care, automotive and financial services industries, as well as the public sector. Learn more about Covisint at www.covisint.com.

About MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.

Headquartered in San Diego, MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc., is the nation's largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company that does not sell drugs. Founded in 1989, the company currently serves more than 32 million individuals nationwide. MedImpact clients include Fortune 500 corporations and employers, unions, managed care organizations, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, as well as local, state and federal employee programs. MedImpact bases its success on delivering innovative products and services designed to lower overall client cost while increasing member satisfaction and quality of care.

SOURCE Michigan State Medical Society

Source: PR Newswire

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