eClinicalWorks, a Massachusetts-based Health IT vendor for ambulatory practices, plans to add 100 software developers in the next year as part of a $50 million initiative to expand in patient engagement and population health tools. The company launched its Health & Online Wellness (healow) division in February with $25 million in funding and approximately 75 workers. It says it has 14 million consumers using its electronic patient portal and mobile application, and doctors send more than 5 million messages to patients monthly. The Affordable Care Act is pressing healthcare organizations to provide tools to help patients become more active in managing their own health, including means to connect with their doctors and access their medical records. eClinicalWorks’ healow mobile app directly connects patients to their electronic health records and provides a communication channel with doctors. Among the company’s new initiatives are home monitoring tools to send vital signs directly to an EHR, a website for patients to find doctors and schedule appointments, and technology to allow patients to check in at doctor’s offices via a kiosk or by scanning a QR code on their smartphone. Enhancements to its Care Coordination Medical Record, used to foster and document communication among care teams, are due out in early 2014. “For population health management, we will be enhancing and adding new functionality based on customer feedback, as well as support new shared savings plans,” a spokesperson told HealthData Management. The company plans to add 500 jobs total in 2014.