When Dr. Richard Levine needs quick access to his patient's electronic health records, he consults his iPhone.
As part of a pilot program at ColumbiaDoctors, Levine is testing an app called Allscripts Remote, created by Chicago, Ill.-based software maker Allscripts, which gives him access to real-time patient data, provides fast communication with emergency rooms and allows him to e-mail prescriptions to pharmacies.
"We are in test mode because we want to be absolutely certain that it meets all of our HIPAA rules and regulations," says Levine, president of ColumbiaDoctors, the faculty practice of Columbia University Medical Center in New York. "Once we get past that, I'm chomping at the bit, being the cheerleader for all these doctors."
ColumbiaDoctors has already licensed the electronic health records system. They launched the transition two years ago. Allscripts does not reveal exact prices, but the standard industry-wide cost for an EHR system would be $10,000 per physician.
If ColumbiaDoctors wants to use the iPhone app alongside the Allscripts system, they have to purchase it as well. The Allscripts Remote app will cost each doctor an additional $20 per month.
All told, more than 100 medical groups around the U.S. have started using Allscripts Remote since the app debuted last April.
