AHT Corporation and Merck-Medco Pilot Internet-Based Prescription Management Services in Physician Offices
TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 22, 1999--AHT Corporation (NASDAQ: AHTC) announced today that it will launch a comprehensive pilot program with Merck-Medco Managed Care, L.L.C., the nation's leading provider of prescription drug benefits, to provide Internet-based prescription management services to physicians located in up to four major metropolitan areas. Based on the success of a recently completed, initial six-month pilot in New Jersey, AHT and Merck-Medco now plan to provide online prescription management services to as many as 200 additional physicians.
"We believe that prescription writing through secure Internet-enabled browsers offers potentially substantial benefits for both physicians and their patients," stated Jon Edelson, MD, Chairman and CEO of AHT. "The objective of this expanded pilot program is to demonstrate that point-of-care information can improve the quality, compliance and convenience of prescription writing. As a result of this automation, we believe that patients will likely receive a higher level of care."
Rob Alger, Executive Vice President and CIO of AHT, explained that the company's Internet-enabled software is being used to enhance Merck-Medco's point-of-care initiative of providing physicians with the ability to:
- Process electronic requests for prescription renewals;
- Conduct formulary management online; and
- Electronically write and transmit prescriptions to designated
Merck-Medco Rx Services' mail service pharmacies, in states where
electronic transmission of prescriptions is permitted by law.
Commenting on the pilot program, Mr. Alger stated, "Both companies are united in a common goal of providing physicians with online access to clinical and patient information at the point of care. Our software will give physicians easy-to-use tools to access and review patient information online and to determine the safest and most economical medications for patients. This benefits both physicians and patients by improving efficiency and controlling costs."
"These new capabilities are consistent with our goal of increasing physicians' ability to access pharmacy benefit information and services at the point of care which, in turn, can help improve patient health and reduce overall health care costs," said Kyle D. Farmer, Vice President, Physician Office Technology, Merck-Medco Managed Care. "We believe that AHT's software capabilities will help us achieve more efficient communications between physicians and our pharmacists, reduce illegible prescriptions, and result in better, faster, and more cost-effective services for patients and our plan sponsor clients."
AHT Corporation is participating in this week's HIMSS Conference and Exhibition, the largest healthcare information technology conference of the year.
AHT Corporation (NASDAQ: AHTC) participates in the growing healthcare e-commerce market. The company provides information technology enabling the electronic management of laboratory and prescription transactions. AHT's goal is to become a leading provider of Internet-based clinical e-commerce among physicians and healthcare organizations. For more information, please visit AHT's web site at www.ahtech.com. (Effective February 1, 1999, Advanced Health Corporation changed the name under which it is conducting business to AHT Corporation and changed its NASDAQ stock symbol to AHTC from ADVH.) Merck-Medco Managed Care, L.L.C., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., is the nation's leading pharmacy benefit management company, serving benefit plans of employers, unions, commercial and government health plans that provide benefits to more than 51 million Americans. Merck-Medco Rx Services, its mail service pharmacy subsidiary, serves patients through 13 state-of-the-art mail service pharmacies and its PAID Prescriptions, L.L.C., subsidiary manages prescriptions dispensed at 55,000 community pharmacies nationwide. Additional information about Merck-Medco is available on the World Wide Web at www.merck-medco.com.
This press release contains forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, including statements as to industry trends, future economic performance, anticipated profitability, anticipated revenues and expenses, and products or service line growth, may be significantly impacted by certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, failure to meet operating objectives or to execute the operating plan, failure to successfully restructure the Company's business units, competition and other economic factors. No assurances can be given as to the outcome of any pending lawsuits against the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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CONTACT:
AHT Corporation, Tarrytown
Arthur Dague, 914/524-4783
e-mail: adague@ahtech.com |
