Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 - (Page 5) www.drugtopics.com DECEMBER 3, 2007 DRUG TOPICS 5 TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Reid Paul Of Interest to Pharmacists New ASAP standard simplifies pseudoephedrine tracking A doption of electronic tracking for pseudoephedrine purchases has been hampered by uncertainty. Which data should be captured and how should they be stored? Will some states require pharmacies to use specific programs? What else will pharmacies be required to track? In an effort to answer at least some of these questions, the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP) has developed a new technology standard for pseudoephedrine tracking. Several technology companies have released software solutions that can scan product packaging, drivers’ licenses, and consumer signatures to greatly speed up the process. In addition, a growing number of states and local governments have developed their own systems. The new standard seeks to facilitate the integration of data from various systems as well as simplify the process of choosing a system for pharmacies. The standard will provide a common agreed-upon format for storing key data such as drivers’ license numbers and also stipulates how the data should be reported and how point-of-sale systems would handle them. Parata earns five patents Parata was awarded patents for five pharmacy automation solutions, the company recently announced. One of the patents was given for the company’s new Parata APM self-service prescription refill pickup and another focused on the capping mechanism on Parata RDS (Robotic Dispensing System). The remaining patents protect products Parata acquired with McKesson APS (Automated Prescription Services) in 2006. New outlet for Zebras Medi-Dose and EPS will now distribute the Zebra LP2844 Direct Thermal Printer. The printer can be used with the MILT 3.0 software as well as the companies’ newly designed thermal labels to create bar codes, text, graphics, and logos. The LP2844 features a small footprint, and since the label stock has thermal ink embedded within it, there’s no need for toner. Zebra LP2844 Direct Thermal Printer Federal employees to have access to PHRs in 2008 Aetna has announced that next year all federal employees enrolled in its Federal Employees Health Benefits Program plan will have access to a personal health record (PHR). Currently, 26,000 federal employees are enrolled in the plan. Beneficiaries will be able to customize their records on-line through the passwordprotected system with information such as family history, immunization records, allergies, and emergency contact information. Aetna will also scan health data and claims information and issue personalized messages to beneficiaries, alerting them in an effort to improve quality of care. And it’s not just federal employees who are moving toward PHRs. Bassett Healthcare, which operates four hospitals and 23 community health centers in central New York, recently contracted with McKesson to create electronic health records and other automation technologies. Bassett will install McKesson’s Horizon Clinicals solutions, including bar-code medication administration and business intelligence tools, and combine all the data on patient electronic health records. E-prescribing showing promise Although slow, electronic prescription initiatives continue to gain momentum. In New Jersey, 1,000 doctors were given Zix PocketScript handheld computers beginning in 2005. Aetna officials, examining the results of the pilot test, learned that generic prescriptions rose 5% to 7% when doctors had access to formulary information on the handhelds. Following the program’s success, Aetna has expanded to include 750 more physicians in New York and Connecticut. The next step for e-prescriptions may very well Zix PocketScript be government programs. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association has been calling on Medicare to require e-prescriptions. Last month, the Department of Health & Human Services released a draft rule proposing a standard for electronic prescriptions, clearing the way for wider adoption of e-prescriptions in government programs. Comments on the rule are welcome through Jan. 15, 2008. In addition, First Health Services and RxHub recently implemented a secure network to facilitate the use of e-prescribing for Medicaid patients in 14 states. DT http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Government+And+Law/Pseudoephedrine-control-moving-on-line/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/442597?contextCategoryId=5884 http://www.cms.hhs.gov/erulemaking/
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 Contents Do People Sue People who Counsel? New Standard Issued for Pseudoephedrine Tracking Latest News Roundup Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 - Contents (Page 1) Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 - Contents (Page 2) Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 - Contents (Page 3) Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 - Do People Sue People who Counsel? (Page 4) Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 - New Standard Issued for Pseudoephedrine Tracking (Page 5) Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 - Latest News Roundup (Page 6) Drug Topics - December 3, 2007 - Latest News Roundup (Page 7)
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