Vendor Launches National Network for Clinicians

Ambulatory software vendor eClinicalWorks has launched a free national peer-to-peer electronic network for physicians and other providers.

The network enables physicians to securely communicate with peers regardless of electronic health records systems being used, and even if they don’t have an EHR, according to the vendor. The network supports secure messaging protocols of the federally developed Direct Project.

Westborough, Mass.-based eClinicalWorks has been developing the network with client physicians and other providers invited by those clients. It officially launches the network with 10,000 physician members, including about 1,000 who are not users of its practice management and EHR software.

The vendor expects to invest $10 million more in the network during the next year. Initial services include finding and connecting with providers; transmitting electronic referrals and related information; transmitting patients records with attachments including progress notes, lab results, medical summary and scanned documents; and building a personal address book. The network is available at jointhenetwork.com.