With the addition of PS Suite EMR from MD Practice Software LP, TELUS Health will be positioned to unleash the full potential of EMRs in Canada with national footprint, expanded reach and connectivity across the healthcare system

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - Strengthening its commitment to provide the best healthcare information technology solutions in Canada, TELUS Health announced today its offer to acquire  the electronic medical record (EMR) business operated by MD Practice Software LP, a member of the MD Physician Services Group and a subsidiary of the Canadian Medical Association. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Closing of the transaction is scheduled for March 4, 2013.

With the acquisition of Ontario's largest EMR provider, TELUS Health will further expand its reach in the first line of care, now providing EMR solutions to 9,000 Canadian physicians across the country, and impacting more than 25 million patient interactions each year. TELUS Health currently provides solutions to all major stakeholders in the health system, including hospitals, pharmacies, and extended healthcare providers such as physiotherapists and chiropractors.

"TELUS Health firmly believes that by securely connecting physicians to the broader healthcare continuum and facilitating confidential interactions between the patient and their full care teams, we will further realize our vision of turning information into better health outcomes," said Paul Lepage, President, TELUS Health.  "This acquisition is part of TELUS Health's future vision for next generation EMR, which enables us to examine best practices, drive efficiencies and reduce care gaps throughout the healthcare system, resulting in strengthened primary care access for Canadians."

More than 10 years ago, TELUS made the decision to use its world-class technology and innovation to address the unprecedented challenges facing the Canadian healthcare system.  To support this, TELUS has invested more than $1 billion over the past five years, including the acquisitions of EMR providers Wolf Medical Systems in Western Canada and KinLogix in Quebec. The combined strength of these acquisitions, coupled with organic growth, positions TELUS Health as the leading EMR provider in Canada.

"We are proud of the support we have provided physicians and our involvement in the evolution of EMR platforms, assisting in fundamentally changing the nature of healthcare," said Mike Gassewitz, President, MD Practice Software LP. "As the business evolves and focus shifts to connectivity of systems and the continual improvement of outcomes, this is the right time to transition EMR clients to a leading IT company which shares our vision and has the standing and resources to implement a national best-in-class EMR offering which delivers inter-operability."

Electronic medical records have evolved significantly from their original purpose of increasing physician efficiency by moving from paper records to electronic formats.  Today's EMR's have the potential to seamlessly connect physicians with patients and other health care providers and have become an important tool for physicians to improve health outcomes for patients.

"The most important concern for physicians is to provide the highest quality health care to their patients," said Dr. Anna Reid, President of the Canadian Medical Association. "Electronic medical records that connect front line physicians with health care teams are an important tool in delivering high-quality care."

About TELUS Health
TELUS Health is a leader in telehomecare, electronic medical and health records, consumer health, benefits management and pharmacy management. TELUS Health solutions give health authorities, providers, physicians, patients and consumers the power to turn information into better health outcomes. For more information about TELUS Health, please visit telushealth.com.

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $10.9 billion of annual revenue and more than 13.1 million customer connections, including 7.7 million wireless subscribers, 3.4 million wireline network access lines, 1.4 million Internet subscribers and 678,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services, including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment and video.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed more than $300 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.8 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Fourteen TELUS Community Boards lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

donna.ramirez@telus.com