Drug Topics - June 16, 2008 - (Page 42)

42 DRUG TOPICS JUNE 16, 2008 www.drugtopics.com TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Reid Paul Electronic medical records gain new momentum inally some muscle is getting behind electronic medical records (EMRs) initiatives. All 8.7 million Kaiser Permanente members nationwide now have electronic medical records as part of the HMO’s HealthConnect program. Kaiser’s 13,000 physicians will have access to the records in a program that it began rolling out in 2004. Within Kaiser’s closed-loop system paper records may indeed be a thing of the past. Not to be outdone, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is testing a program in South Carolina in which Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries will be provided with electronic records that will include some CMS claims data, although not necessarily Medicare Part D information. Beneficiaries must register for the electronic records. Information from hospital and provider medical claims will be automatically entered if the beneficiary requests the data. And the EMR news doesn’t end there. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire is expanding its e-prescribing initiative by adding EMRs. Practitioners who are part of its e-prescribing program will be able to access medical records and claims data on Anthem members. F that violate the law could lose their licenses or be subject to criminal charges. The law was named for Justin Pearson of Minnesota, who died of an overdose of Vicodin, Percocet, and OxyContin, which he received online after filling out a brief questionnaire. Med-Fast rolls out APM A Med-Fast pharmacy located inside a Pittsburgh-area grocery store is now offering 24-hour drug pickups with the self-service APM from Parata (www. parata.com). The APM works like a bank ATM, but instead of doling out cash, it holds filled prescriptions. Users can use an attached phone for consultations and must scan in credit card and identification to pick up prescriptions. Rubbermaid offers hybrid The Toyota Prius isn’t the only hybrid these days to garner some attention. Rubbermaid Medical Solutions (www.rubbermaidmed ical.com) recently announced an expansion pack for its M38 Mobile Computer Cart line. The company is calling the pack a “hybrid” of traditional computer and medication carts. With drawer configuration options between two and six, the Medication Expansion Pack supports recent legislation in California on patient-to-nurse ratios and offers a variety of configurations. Rubbermaid M38 cart NCPDP unveils new product The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs is launching dataQ, a Web-based database that contains National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers as well as pharmacy network development and credentialing, data validation, drug utilization monitoring, and product recalls, along with market research and analysis. The database is available with varying subscription levels. The dataQ (www.ncpdpdataq.org) database is based on the Standard Pharmacy Database v2.1, which will still be available from NCPDP. Calling for adherence Verizon Wireless and Vocel have teamed up to create Pill Phone (www.pillphone.com), an application that offers detailed drug information and automatic dosing reminders for users of Verizon Wireless phones. The software is a modified version of the Pill Book, a medication guide. Users will have access to information on more than 1,800 medications, including dosing, side effects, drug interactions, and photos of medications. In addition, the software offers medication reminders, which allow customers to schedule dosing reminders. Minnesota passes Justin’s Law A new Minnesota law aims to make it more difficult to buy some prescription drugs online. The law, which was supported by the Minnesota Pharmacists Association, requires face-to-face consultations with prescribers and bans pharmacies from filling prescriptions that are not based on a legitimate medical relationship. Pharmacists http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.parata.com http://www.parata.com http://www.rubbermaidmedical.com http://www.rubbermaidmedical.com http://www.ncpdpdataq.org http://www.pillphone.com

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Drug Topics - June 16, 2008 Contents Latebreakers Letters Latebreakers in Depth Pharmacists Lose in Final ESRD Rule New Drug Helps Palliative Patients on Opioids Take Care of Business Oral Treatment Reduces Multiple Sclerosis Flare-ups Beware of Inflammatory Masses From Implantable Infusion Systems Safer Therapeutic Options Emerging for Atrial Fibrillation Congressional Committee Chair Calls for Action Against Hospital Infections This Software System Helps Hospitals Manage Anticoagulation Therapy Rx Care Community Practice JP at Large Self-Care Cover Story Long-Term Care Chains and Business Technology Technology Update Continuing Education New Products Advertisers Index Classified Viewpoint

Drug Topics - June 16, 2008

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