Quest Diagnostics, the Madison, N.J.-based provider of clinical laboratory services, and Surescripts, of Alexandria, Va. and St. Paul, Minn., which operates the country’s largest electronic prescribing network, will collaborate on an integrated service meant to make lab and pharmacy data more easily accessible to doctors and clinicians.

Quest Diagnostics tests approximately 150 million patients annually, and connects 150,000 physicians via its Care360 platform. Surescripts, which processed almost 600 million e-prescription messages in 2009, supports 170,000 or so active prescribers.

"In recent years, Surescripts and Quest Diagnostics have each committed to pioneering advancements in healthcare technology solutions," said Richard A. Mahoney, vice president, for healthcare information solutions at Quest Diagnostics. "Now, we are working together to support our nation's goal to achieve a National Health Information Network (NHIN), with an aim to make it possible and realistic for physicians to use technology meaningfully toward optimal and efficient patient care."

Harry Totonis, president and CEO of Surescripts added, "Surescripts built the nation's e-prescribing network and the ecosystem to support it, based on the foundations of neutrality, efficiency and quality. This strategic alliance will leverage the strengths and experience behind our laboratory and prescription networks with an intent to form an information-rich, interoperable service that helps to lower costs and transform patient care throughout the healthcare system."