Quest Diagnostics, Surescripts announce agreement to pioneer integrated service to improve clinical outcomes

Two of the nation's largest healthcare information networks, Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, and Surescripts®, The Nation's E-Prescription Network™, today announced an agreement to pioneer the formation of an integrated service to make laboratory and prescription information broadly and easily accessible to physicians. The collaboration is designed to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Quest Diagnostics tests approximately 150 million patients each year and has 150,000 physicians connected to its Care360™ platform. Surescripts processed nearly 600 million e-prescription messages in 2009. The company supports approximately 170,000 active prescribers.

"In recent years, Surescripts and Quest Diagnostics have each committed to pioneering advancements in healthcare technology solutions," said Richard A. Mahoney, Quest Diagnostics' Vice President, Healthcare Information Solutions. "Now, we are working together to support our nation's goal to achieve a National Health Information Network (NHIN), with an aim to make it possible and realistic for physicians to use technology meaningfully toward optimal and efficient patient care."

According to Harry Totonis, Surescripts' president and CEO, "Surescripts built the nation's e-prescribing network and the ecosystem to support it, based on the foundations of neutrality, efficiency and quality. This strategic alliance will leverage the strengths and experience behind our laboratory and prescription networks with an intent to form an information-rich, interoperable service that helps to lower costs and transform patient care throughout the healthcare system."