Epocrates, Inc., an athenahealth, Inc. ( ATHN ) subsidiary, has launched a new application (app) -- Epocrates Provider Directory - through which its services can be availed at one place. This positive news is expected to boost investor confidence in the stock. The company's stock returned an impressive 32.0% to its investors on a year-to-date basis.
This app enables its healthcare professional members to easily identify colleagues for consultations and patient referrals, without having to search through the Internet. The unique Provider Directory app is superior to conventional Epocrates offerings, as it now helps members to actually communicate with each other, rather than simply build a one-to-one relationship.
The Epocrates Provider Directory has a large registry of above 700,000 clinicians gathered from public sources. Members using Epocrates Rx or Epocrates Essentials can easily search for valuable drug information such as dosing, pricing and black box warnings, or clinical information such as labs and differential diagnoses. Moreover, clinicians can edit their own profiles at any time to ensure continual accuracy.
Management believes that the new mobile tool will enhance clinician efficiency and workflow by providing correct and requisite information at the point of care. Moreover, Epocrates facilitates easy sharing of the provider's information to a colleague or patient via email.
Earlier, Epocrates had launched another mobile app, "Epocrates Bugs + Drugs," which combined cloud-based clinical data with a user-friendly mobile interface. The app was designed to locate local bacterial superbugs (bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics) and assist physicians to timely prescribe appropriate antibiotics. The highly acclaimed "Epocrates Bugs + Drugs" is available for free on iOS 7 devices in the Apple App Store.
Currently, athenahealth has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). While we choose to remain on the sidelines regarding ATHN, other better-placed medical products stocks that are worth a look include INSYS Therapeutics, Inc. ( INSY ), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. ( BIO ) and Resmed Inc. ( RMD ). All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
ATHENAHEALTH IN (ATHN): Free Stock Analysis Report
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INSYS THERAP (INSY): Free Stock Analysis Report
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
