IT: Allscripts releases EHR system for small practices

Illinois-based Allscripts Healthcare Solutions is re-releasing its TouchChart Electronic Health Record system and will market the software to small medical groups with 15 or fewer participating physicians. The announcement came at TEPR last week. With competition fierce among vendors for larger practices and health networks, small medical groups have become a bit like the holy grail of health information technology. Everybody is looking for ways to bring them in. Health IT czar David Brailer talks about them constantly.

Will the Allscripts release win over physicians who hesitate at making an investment many think will never pay off? Its too early to know. Pricing for TouchChart remains in the $10,000 per physician range, with adjustments based on practice size. The company is hoping the system's recently announced integration with Medem's iHealthRecord will be a major selling point. iHealthRecord lets patients create and update a health record online.

- see this press release from Allscripts