HIE Wire   back to index

Pfizer, IBM and Microsoft collaborate to launch Amicore, a software and services company, to provide office automation solutions to physicians

From Amicore

NEW YORK, New York, October 10, 2001. Pfizer, IBM and Microsoft today announced the launch of Amicore, a newly formed independent software and services company providing workflow and connectivity solutions to office-based physicians. Amicore's focus will be to reduce the administrative workload and paperwork for physicians, allowing them to dedicate more time toward their mission of providing quality patient care.

Amicore announced that it has named Jim Fitzsimmons as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Fitzsimmons, a healthcare technology veteran and entrepreneur, founded and successfully led three technology companies, including two exclusively focused on the healthcare industry.

Amicore also announced the acquisition of the PenChart Corporation, a Connecticut-based healthcare application developer, to form the core of the company's initial product offering and accelerate its product development strategy.

Amicore will begin operations immediately and has already begun to apply the industry knowledge, expertise and technology of Pfizer, IBM, and Microsoft. The company, with its independent sales, marketing and product development staff, has its current headquarters in New York City.

"Pfizer has clearly seen the tremendous administrative burden faced by physicians and their need for solutions to improve their business practices and cut down on paperwork so that they can focus more time on practicing medicine", said Peter Brandt, Senior Vice President of Finance, Planning and Business Development for Pfizer. "We are pleased to work with IBM and Microsoft and believe that Amicore provides a complete technology solution for the practicing physician. We are particularly excited to have a solid CEO such as Jim Fitzsimmons on board — a leader with an unusually broad healthcare and technology experience and a strong entrepreneurial background."

A recent customer study showed that PenChart software almost entirely eliminated the cost of filing and retrieving paper medical records and reduced the cost of ordering prescription refills and of transcription services by over 80%. Other significant cost and quality benefits include more efficient patient visits, increased accuracy in coding for billing and reimbursement, ready access to patient information from any location, better compliance with third-party documentation requirements, and a decreased number of phone calls and external communications.

Russell J Ricci, MD, General Manager IBM Global Healthcare, said: "Physicians will be attracted to Amicore for two key reasons. First, Amicore is backed by Pfizer, IBM, and Microsoft — each with core strengths and a recognized brand. Second, Amicore will use IBM's Global Services for installation and service and to provide low-cost, reliable IBM Web-hosting with full security and privacy of electronic files."

"Microsoft is committed to helping the healthcare industry and its providers reduce paperwork and streamline the practice of medicine", said David Lubinski, Public Sector and Healthcare General Manager, Enterprise Sales and Industry Group at Microsoft. "The Microsoft.Net technology platform will enable physicians to practice medicine any time, any place, on any device, with security and reliability. In selecting Jim Fitzsimmons as Amicore's CEO, we believe we have a very impressive leader with a focused strategy for the company's long-term growth."

Jim Fitzsimmons, Amicore's President and CEO, said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead Amicore beyond the strong foundation already established by these three world-class companies. I am ready to move forward in a responsible and pragmatic way to build this company and help physicians better manage the administrative burdens they currently face."

More information at www.amicore.com