Bloomberg News (12/9, Nussbaum) reports, "Pressure from insurers such as Aetna Inc. and WellPoint Inc. and the need to cut hospital costs are speeding a move by doctors to computer recordkeeping," according to Glen Tullman, chief executive officer of Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc. "Allscripts has seen a fivefold increase in the number of U.S. doctors using its electronic prescribing software," he added. Tullman noted that the industry's current shift to electronic health records (EHRs)"may lessen the need for $50 billion in public financing championed by President-elect Barack Obama," who "has sought to spur a transition to online medical records to cut expenses and lessen the risk of medical errors." George Hill, Leerink's vice-president for investment banking at Allscripts said that "companies that specialize in computer systems for hospitals and doctor's offices are poised to benefit." Tullman explained that Allscripts alone "served 5,000 doctors using e-prescribing software a year ago," which has "climbed to 25,000 today."
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