Iowa Health System has launched a statewide initiative to make electronic prescription software available at no cost to all Iowa physicians. Iowa Health is offering the program, called ePrescribe Iowa, through a partnership with Chicago-based Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc. Fewer than 3 percent of all prescriptions written in Iowa last year were produced with electronic prescription software. “This statewide e-prescribing will help physicians take an important first step toward the adoption of fully-connected electronic health records,” Iowa Health System President and CEO Bill Leaver said at a press conference this morning. The system, which is already used by doctors employed by Iowa Health, is expected to lower costs by increasing efficiency and reducing medical errors. It will be delivered through Iowa Health’s fiber-optic communications network, HealthNet Connect.

EMC Insurance Group Inc. will release its third-quarter earnings statement before the opening of regular market hours on Oct. 23. An earnings call is scheduled that day for 10 a.m. Iowa time. The telephone number is (877) 407-8031. In addition, a webcast will be available at www.investorcalendar.com and www.emcins.com/ir. The earnings release and financial supplement will be available at www.emcinsurance.com.

West Bancorporation Inc., parent company of West Bank and WB Capital Management Inc., will report its results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 on Oct. 29 prior to the opening of markets. The company will discuss its results in a conference call that day at 2 p.m. Iowa time. The telephone number for the conference call is (800) 860-2442. A recording of the call will be available until Nov. 13 by dialing (877) 344-7529. The replay passcode is 426999.

The U.S. Small Business Administration and Dun & Bradstreet Inc. will present a free, 30-minute interactive webinar at 1 p.m. Wednesday on how small businesses can succeed through innovation. Small businesses can register for the webinar by clicking here to access Dun & Bradstreet’s small business portal.