New Company Formed to Provide Office Automation Solutions To Allow Doctors to Focus on Patients, Not Paperwork
Pfizer announced plans today to collaborate with Microsoft and IBM to form
an independent company that will develop software and services for physician
practices. The focus of the company will be to reduce the administrative
workload for physicians, allowing them to put more time toward their mission
of providing quality patient care.
Now more than ever, doctors are required to invest a large amount of their
time to increasing paperwork demands. According to the 2000 leadership
survey conducted by the Health Information Management Systems Society, over
70 percent of physicians stated that improving operating efficiencies was
their primary concern.
The new company will focus on the needs of office-based physicians,
particularly those in smaller groups, which represent 70 percent of the
office-based doctors in the United States today.
Nelson C. Walker II. M.D., a member of Mansfield Family Practice, a small
group practice in Mansfield, Connecticut, said, "There is no more important
relationship in medicine than between doctor and patient, but that
relationship has been seriously strained by growing administrative burdens.
Small medical practices like mine need to streamline office management so we
can spend more time with patients."
Using Microsoft's .NET Enterprise Server Platform, Windows 2000 and wireless
devices, product offerings will emphasize integrated clinical, financial,
and administrative tools to help physicians streamline workflow. Physicians
and other care providers will have access to complete medical histories,
insurance information, lab results, billing arrangements and more while
treating the patients. At the same time, providers will be able to rapidly
document patient findings using high quality encoding security systems to
ensure that all information is securely transmitted and patient
confidentiality fully respected.
"Innovation and strategic partnerships have been key to Pfizer's growth.
This initiative represents our customer focus in action: a cost-effective,
customized solution that responds directly to one of the most pressing
issues facing physicians today," said Karen Katen, Pfizer's Executive Vice
President and President of Worldwide Pharmaceuticals. "We are particularly
pleased to be working with Microsoft and IBM, two technology leaders who
share our enthusiasm for what we can accomplish together."
"Microsoft's involvement in this new venture demonstrates our deep
commitment to providing IT solutions to the physician community," said Ralph
Young, Vice President, Enterprise Solutions Group at Microsoft. "Physicians
need integrated IT solutions that afford them reliability and mobility so
that they can focus on what they do best - providing care to their
patients."
"We at IBM share Pfizer's focus on customers and emphasis on developing
solutions that directly address customer needs," said Russell J. Ricci,
M.D., General Manager IBM Global Healthcare. "We are committed to providing
services to the new company to help integrate and deploy technologies, as
well as Web-hosting operations and help desk services through our call
centers."
The new company is expected to make its first products available to the
general market later this year. The company will pursue acquisitions,
partnerships and other investments to provide a comprehensive product and
service offering, supported by its own dedicated marketing, sales and
customer support structure.
The parties intend to execute definitive documents to further implement this
relationship. No assurances may be made that such documents will be
executed.
About Pfizer
Founded in 1849, Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures and markets
leading prescription medicines and healthcare solutions, for humans and
animals, and many of the world's best-known consumer products. Pfizer had
global revenues of $29.6 billion in 2000. Pfizer plans to invest
approximately $5 billion in research and development in 2001.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and
Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company
offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people
through great software - any time, any place and on any device.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest technology provider (hardware, software and
services) with revenues in 2000 of more than $88 billion and is the
worldwide leader in e-business solutions. The company has more than 300,000
employees and does business in more than 160 countries. IBM is focused on
delivering customized, flexible and scalable Internet solutions for
companies of all sizes. For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com
