Medical Association Selects PhysicianAccess.com System for Increased Physician Office Efficiencies.

Business/High Tech Editors, Health & Medical Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2000

Association members to gain free Web sites with unique

patient-office communication features

The Santa Clara County Medical Association today announced sponsorship of PAxNet(tm), a new Internet-based productivity and communications application designed to solve office operations problems and increase efficiency in independent physician offices.

Developed by PhysicianAccess.com, the leading Application Service Provider (ASP) for independent physicians, PAxNet is the first system to offer integrated practice management functions with a lightweight clinical record and secure patient-office communication components.

The Santa Clara County Medical Association, which supports Silicon Valley physicians, and PhysicianAccess.com are also providing individual Web sites for each of the 3,000 physician members. The Web sites include the PAxNet patient-office communications components, which are controlled and configured by the physician office. This is the first time a medical association of this size has offered and deployed a cost-effective, electronic communications tool for its members.

Through a secure connection, patients can access physician office data to review and edit their personal medical profiles. Patients can also use the system to submit requests for appointments, prescription refills and receive annotated test results, instructions, office reminders and other communications from their physicians.

PAxNet reduces the time and effort it takes to gather important patient information, and then streamlines operations because of its integrated clinical and business application. Designed specifically for physicians, the system eliminates practice redundancies and greatly reduces office-operating costs by integrating essential clinical data, billing functions, reporting, and patient communications.

The Santa Clara County Medical Association is recommending PAxNet as the system of choice for its 3,000 member physicians. The program not only provides a tool for improved patient care, but it also increases office productivity and efficiencies, reducing overhead costs by as much as $1,000 per physician each month.

"We have been working with PhysicianAccess for more than 18 months, and are impressed with the people and their product. PAxNet elegantly addresses office operations issues that every physician faces," said William Parrish, Jr., CEO of the Santa Clara County Medical Association. "Because of its unique design and inclusion of office-patient communications, the system also serves -- and benefits -- the patient. PhysicianAccess is providing our physicians with tools that Silicon Valley residents have come to expect and demand!"

"Conscientious physicians struggle to improve office operations and meet patient education needs," said Philip Strong, M.D., co-founder of PhysicianAccess.com. "By adding office-patient communications capabilities and linking clinical and administrative data in one easy-to-use application, we've created the tools and infrastructure that simplify the process of managing the flow of practice data."

To implement the PhysicianAccess.com system, users need a computer, Web browsing software and an Internet connection. Physicians can access the benefits without the need to install or maintain specific software or hardware.

Headquartered in San Jose, California, the Santa Clara County Medical Association is an organization that works on behalf of member physicians and the public to promote excellence in the provision of quality, ethical health care. In partnership with the California Medical Association, and affiliated with the American Medical Association, the Santa Clara County Medical Association advocates policies and provides a number of benefits for its 3,000 members and the public at large. More information on the Santa Clara County Medical Association is available at http://www.sccma.org.

Also located in San Jose, PhysicianAccess.com is an application service provider (ASP) for independent physician practices. The company solves clinical records and business management problems. Unlike traditional practice management tools, PhysicianAccess.com's tools leverage the power of the Internet to link patients and their physicians electronically. PhysicianAccess.com integrates clinical data and business transactions to improve office operations, customer service, and quality of care. More information on the company is available at http://www.physicianaccess.com.