Roche Introduces CoaguChek Link Web Resource to Streamline Anticoagulation Management for Doctors and Patients

Secure online application developed in conjunction with Voluntis helps simplify patient management for physicians and reporting of test results for patients who self-test PT/INR

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and Voluntis S.A. announced today the introduction of CoaguChek(R) Link, a versatile online resource that helps simplify and streamline the process of managing patients on anticoagulation therapy.

The web-based application gives patients who self-test their PT/INR (clotting time) a simple, convenient way to report their test results and gives doctors a single, secure site to access data to more effectively monitor and manage their patients on warfarin therapy. It is available to physicians who prescribe a patient self-testing program through CoaguChek Patient Services (CPS), an Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility that provides support services for physicians and their patients. The application is based on the Medpassport platform developed by Voluntis, a healthcare software company specializing in Patient Relationship Management.

"CoaguChek Link helps doctors and their patients stay connected so they can work together to manage the patient's anticoagulation therapy more effectively, whether the patient is at home or away," said Tim Huston, director of marketing, professional diagnostics at Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "It simplifies the process for everyone, facilitates better therapy management, and contributes to the goal of helping improve patient outcomes."

CoaguChek Link offers healthcare providers a convenient patient management resource, helping to simplify documentation and streamline office workflow so they can focus on patients that require follow-up care. Clinics and physician offices can use the application (coagucheklink.com) to quickly enroll patients with CPS, educate them about their therapy, view test results in real time through a password-protected portal, modify recommended test frequency or acceptable ranges for patient test results, and generally access the information needed to monitor and adjust a patient's anticoagulant therapy from anywhere. If a patient doesn't report results according to schedule or the results are outside of the range the doctor specifies, the system automatically flags it and the patient's healthcare provider and CPS clinical specialists are notified.

The patient portal of CoaguChek Link helps empower patients to take a more active role in their anticoagulation therapy. At their convenience, enrolled patients can simply log in to the site to report their test results, order supplies, update their profile information, or learn more about their own therapy and the importance of testing.

"CoaguChek Link will give our healthcare providers greater flexibility and an expanded range of options," said Howard Sams, director of business operations at CoaguChek Patient Services. "It will help streamline and simplify the process of monitoring test results, which can help free up physicians to focus on managing patient therapy more effectively."

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of CoaguChek Patient Services in the USA," said Pierre Leurent, Founder and CEO of Voluntis. "This program exemplifies our vision for Voluntis solutions: leading-edge, proven and secure technologies that have the potential to help improve patient care."

About CoaguChek Patient Services

CoaguChek Patient Services (CPS) is an Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility (IDTF) that provides comprehensive support services for healthcare providers and their anticoagulation patients who perform self-testing. CPS is part of Roche Insulin Delivery Systems, which is accredited by the Joint Commission and has received its Gold Seal of Approval™ for complying with the highest national standards for safety and quality of care.

About Voluntis

Voluntis is a healthcare software company specialized in Patient Relationship Management (PRM), its flagship product is called Medpassport. Its mission is to empower healthcare organizations (pharmaceutical and medical companies, insurers and employers, healthcare service providers) to deliver outstanding patient monitoring and support services, using state-of-the-art information and communication technologies. Since 2003, Medpassport has been deployed in Europe and the USA, to manage over 550,000 patient records in over 15 therapeutic areas, including diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, oncology, nutrition and sports medicine. Voluntis is a certified ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 company. Voluntis is headquartered in Paris, France, and has offices in Washington DC, USA. To learn more: www.voluntis.com/?lang=en.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2009, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested almost 10 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 49.1 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com or www.roche-diagnostics.us.

Coagucheklink.com does not provide automated treatment decisions and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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SOURCE Roche Diagnostics Corporation