McKesson's Paragon® Ambulatory Care Practice Management solution is now generally available. This latest product offering extends McKesson's affordable, single database hospital information system (HIS) beyond the inpatient setting into the ambulatory care setting.

Practice Management provides healthcare organizations a single patient record and the same look, feel and intuitiveness of Paragon in their physician practices. The solution addresses the key capabilities required in an ambulatory care setting: billing, registration, scheduling, patient health record, patient education and health maintenance support. The Practice Management solution is designed for hospital-owned practices of all sizes, from single-physician facilities to large ambulatory care organizations with hundreds of physicians.

"Practice Management allows us to use Paragon in our clinics, and this reduces costs and simplifies our IT environment," said Danette Kramer, chief financial officer, Regional Medical Center. "Having a single system provides continuity to the clinicians and staff across our health system, while also increasing patient satisfaction by making their data available in both the clinic and the hospital settings."

This latest solution demonstrates Paragon's track record of rapid product development and ability to deliver solutions that help meet the needs of the market. Since 2001, Paragon has delivered more than 40 software applications, including 30 major products. Over this same period, Paragon has also delivered 10 product releases while staying current with the latest Microsoft®-related technologies - making it a truly contemporary HIS.

The Paragon HIS is a foundational solution in McKesson's Better Health 2020 TM strategy, which focuses on technologies to help organizations reduce costs, optimize performance and quality, coordinate care and navigate complex payment models. The Paragon single database system, now in the ambulatory care setting, will support our customers' initiatives in these areas as they move down the path of healthcare reform.

"We showcased Practice Management at our recent user conference, and the feedback we received has been extremely positive," said Jim Pesce, president, Enterprise Information Solutions, McKesson Technology Solutions. "Making the Paragon solution available in the ambulatory care setting further exhibits how McKesson is delivering on its vision of creating an affordable, contemporary, integrated solution that meets the clinical and financial needs of America's hospitals and health systems."

About McKesson Corporation

McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 14th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better. We partner with payers, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson helps its customers improve their financial, operational, and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, healthcare information technology, and business and clinical services. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com.

McKesson
Ed Domansky, 404-338-3710
edward.domansky@mckesson.com