Pfizer, Microsoft, IBM to Collaborate on Physician Software
Pfizer will collaborate with Microsoft and IBM to form an independent company that will develop software and services for physicians.
The focus of the company will be to reduce administrative workload for physicians, allowing them more time to provide patient care. The new company is expected to make its first products available later this year.
The new company will focus on the needs of office-based physicians, particularly those in smaller groups, which represent 70 percent of the office-based doctors in the United States.
Using Microsoft's .NET Enterprise Server Platform, Windows 2000 and wireless devices, product offerings will emphasize integrated clinical, financial and administrative tools to help physicians streamline workflow.
Physicians and other care providers will have access to complete medical histories, insurance information, lab results, billing arrangements and more while treating the patients. At the same time, providers will be able to rapidly document patient findings using high quality encoding security systems to ensure that all information is securely transmitted and patient confidentiality fully respected.