Microsoft, WellPoint pursue paperless prescriptions
C|Net | at | by Mike
Microsoft's prescription for reducing medication errors moved a step closer to implementation today when the software giant and its health-care partner, WellPoint Health Networks, chose two vendors to provide electronic-prescribing software to physicians.
WellPoint, with Microsoft's Healthcare and Life Sciences Group acting as technology consultant, selected Allscripts Healthcare Solutions and ZixCorp to provide e-prescribing software to the 19,000 physicians in WellPoint's network. This includes doctors in Blue Cross organizations in California, Georgia, Missouri and Wisconsin. The physicians will receive the technology, which uses Windows MobileTM software running on a Dell PDA, at no charge.
Microsoft and other major technology companies are flocking to health care because they see opportunity in the $1.7 trillion industry.