AAFP and MedPlexus Inc. Sign Letter of Intent to Provide Software for Open-Source Electronic Health Record Initiative
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dawn Zimmer, AAFP Denny Koch, MedPlexus, Inc. LEAWOOD, Kan. - The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and MedPlexus Inc. have signed a letter of intent to make available an open-source electronic health record (EHR) for family practice and other office-based medical specialties. The letter of intent serves as a framework for negotiation of a definitive agreement between MedPlexus and a proposed not-for-profit foundation planned for establishment by the AAFP and other medical associations. Upon successful completion of the definitive agreement, the foundation will use MedPlexus' software as the core architecture for its open-source EHR. As envisioned, the project will likely integrate software from other companies as well, to create a robust and flexible set of electronic tools for use in the outpatient care setting. EHRs are essential in increasing the quality of health care and improving patient safety. "An EHR should contain detailed clinical notes; prescription ordering and management capability; a secure messaging system; lab and test results reporting; evidence-based health guidelines; secure and confidential patient access to health records; public health reporting and tracking system; mapping to clinical and administrative standard code sets; and the ability to interface with leading practice management software," said David C. Kibbe, M.D., director of health information technology at the AAFP. "The open-source EHR that we are proposing will be designed to run on PCs, Macintosh, Linux, UNIX, Palm and PocketPC hand-held devices." "It is exciting to collaborate with a trusted, forward-looking organization such as the AAFP on a project that will improve the healthcare system for all involved - patients, providers and payers," said Chittaranjan Mallipeddi, CEO of MedPlexus Inc. In January, the AAFP Board of Directors voted to pursue the development of the not-for-profit foundation by seeking the participation of other medical associations and funding through external sources. The AAFP is working actively to make the new foundation a reality. |
