Healthcare giant McKesson of San Francisco has purchased RelayHealth, a developer of online physician-patient communication services. In a related story, McKesson has formed a new Personal Health Solutions group within its Provider Technologies business unit.
RelayHealth was founded in 1999 and developed webVisit, an online consultation link between physicians and patients that is reimbursable by insurers. RelayHealth's network currently includes over 18,000 healthcare professionals, 600,000 patients, and over a dozen payors.
In addition to webVisit, RelayHealth's services enable patients to maintain their own personal health records at home, view prescription medication lists and request renewals, set appointments, receive test results, and securely communicate with their healthcare providers, according to McKesson. RelayHealth also offers secure messaging services between healthcare professionals. McKesson made an initial investment in RelayHealth in 2005 as part of its goal of expanding its presence in personal health management.
McKesson's Personal Health Solutions group is designed to address the growing market for interactive technologies that enable patients to receive secure electronic access to healthcare providers, personal health records, healthcare financial management systems, and other tools. The group's purview includes in-home patient monitoring, Web portal technology, triage software, and personal emergency response systems, as well as products from the firm's recently acquired HealthCom Partners acquisition, McKesson said.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
June 13, 2006
Related Reading
McKesson acquires HealthCom Partners, May 26, 2006
McKesson lands big health IT contract, May 3, 2006
McKesson sponsors RHIO Wiki, April 11, 2006
McKesson to showcase cardiac products at ACC, March 10, 2006
McKesson signs CHI, December 13, 2005
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