Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Uses McKesson Solutions to Create Electronic Health Records; Initiative Drives Standardization across Three Midwestern Regions in Support of Quality and Safety

In a major information technology initiative designed toenhance patient safety and standardize healthcare processes, WheatonFranciscan Healthcare (Wheaton), will implement McKesson Corporation's(NYSE:MCK) Horizon Clinicals(R) suite of solutions to establishelectronic health records (EHRs). The $17.2 million project will spantwo states, nine hospitals and nearly 100 outpatient settings. The EHRinitiative involves broad-scale deployment of McKesson's completeambulatory EHR system, Horizon Ambulatory Care(TM), which will be usedto automate Wheaton's newly formed Wheaton Medical Group. Rounding outthe EHR project, Wheaton also will implement McKesson's documentimaging, bar-coded medication administration and clinical decisionsupport solutions.

By implementing EHRs with an integrated ambulatory-inpatientapproach, Wheaton expects to improve the consistency of care acrossits facilities, enhance medication safety and support caregivers intheir clinical decision-making in the physician office and in thehospital. Projected savings from the multi-state project are expectedto reach $70 million during the first five years of full operation.

Plans call for Wheaton to upgrade and standardize the technologyinfrastructures in its Milwaukee and Racine, Wis., regions to delivera single, integrated EHR that connects clinicians and employedphysicians working in those two regions' six hospitals and more than60 outpatient settings. A similar implementation will occur in themore geographically distant Iowa region to create an EHR for its threehospitals and multiple outpatient settings to support secure, easyaccess to patient information.

"By deploying technology tools across ambulatory and inpatientsettings, we will make critical clinical information consistent incontent, which will improve both the continuity and quality of careprovided," said Loren Meyer, M.D., president and chief executiveofficer of the newly formed Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group. "Ourphysicians and clinical staff will have a single, secure, Web-basedaccess point for review and update of patient data, such as testresults, encounter notes and diagnostic images as well as informationabout allergies, medications and medical problems. In addition,caregivers will have seamless access to the patient's informationwhether they're on one of our campuses, in their office or even athome."

New technology solutions include handheld, bar-code scanningdevices for nurses to scan medication bar codes at the bedside -- avital safety measure that helps to ensure patients receive the rightmedications at the right time. In addition, members of the care teamwill electronically record and review patient information at the pointof care, enhancing the coordination of inpatient care delivery.

Wheaton also will deploy McKesson's market-leading documentimaging solution, Horizon Patient Folder(TM), to enhance quality ofcare by streamlining cumbersome processes associated with handlingpaper patient charts. Authorized clinical staff will be able to goonline to capture, index, access and complete the patient's legalelectronic medical record. The application is expected to enhancetimely communication among caregivers with the added benefit ofreducing administrative costs, such as record storage. Rounding outthe solution, Wheaton will deploy McKesson's Horizon BusinessFolder(TM) in business offices to further diminish the use of paperand expedite claims preparation.

"Many organizations such as Wheaton have components of an EHR, butwe are the first in our marketplaces to begin implementation of afully integrated EHR," explained John Oliverio, Wheaton's presidentand chief executive officer.

In the final stage of the EHR initiative, all three regions willimplement McKesson's Horizon Expert Orders(TM) solution for clinicaldecision support and physician order entry. The application providesclinicians with advanced decision support in the form of adaptiveorder sets and treatment guidelines based on the role of theclinician, the patient's condition and evidence-based clinicalknowledge.

To support the success of this important initiative, Wheaton hasdesignated a technology team consisting of McKesson and other vendorsthat are planning and helping to implement the project. According toOliverio, utilizing a technology team of vendors, some of whom arecompetitors, is a national best practice. "McKesson is investing itsengineering leaders to successfully launch an integrated electronichealth record at Wheaton. This collaboration and commitment is whatwill ensure our ability to get this work done."

"We are delighted to be able to partner with Wheaton Franciscan asit endeavors to develop a comprehensive electronic environment insupport of advanced clinical processes and patient safety," saidPamela Pure, president of McKesson Provider Technologies. "Wheaton isclearly committed to employing information technology to driveclinical excellence and promote its mission to provide exceptional andcompassionate care to its communities."

About Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare is a Catholic, not-for-profit healthcare ministry with more than 100 organizations including 15 hospitals,four long-term care facilities, two home health agencies, more than3,500 physicians, 70 clinic sites at which 598 employed physicianspractice, and more than 22,000 associates in Wisconsin, Iowa andIllinois. Started by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters more than 125years ago and formally incorporated in 1983, the organization hascorporate offices on the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters' campus inWheaton, Illinois, and in Glendale, Wisconsin, where its majoroperations center is located.

About McKesson

McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 16th on the FORTUNE 500, isa healthcare services and information technology company dedicated tohelping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducingcosts, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety ofpatient care. Over the course of its 173-year history, McKesson hasgrown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supplymanagement across the spectrum of care; healthcare informationtechnology for hospitals, physicians, homecare, and payors; hospitaland retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers andpayors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For moreinformation: www.mckesson.com.