Healthcare IT News - September 2007 - (Page 12)

12 Healthcare it News MY TWO CENTS n September 2007 www.HealthcareITNews.com ready for ‘real results’ on e-scripts a big boost last month when Alaska became the last state to pave the way for digital scripts by eliminating state laws that prohibited it. That there were states still outlawing digital prescribing in this so-called information age is amazing. It’s hard to imagine life without e-mail or the ATM. When was the last time we wrote a check – by hand? When was the last time any of us went inside a bank to withdraw cash? Today it would seem quaint. yet patients all around the country still walk into their drug stores to hand over a handwritten prescription they received from their doctor. They either wait for a half hour or more, or they plan a second trip to the pharmacy to pick up their order. Meanwhile, the pharmacist is deciphering the physician’s handwriting. Allscripts ceo Glen Tullman views e-prescribing as an on ramp for the adoption of more information technology by physicians. That makes sense. can anyone imagine the Nationwide Health Information Network with paper scripts? Industry insiders hailed the news about Alaska as a “major milestone,” and it is. But, the fact that Alaska and other states – nearly half – have changed their laws to allow the exchange of prescription information electronically doesn’t mean they will. That’s why the work SureScripts is doing across the country is so vital. SureScripts, which operates the Pharmacy Health Information exchange, has certified the software solutions being used by more than 95 percent of the nation’s retail pharmacies. Founded by the pharmacy industry in 2001, the organization works closely with pharmacies to help them with digital exchange. But even if the pharmacies are prepared for e-prescribing, it will do nothing for digital exchange if physicians are not on board, too. That’s why the second piece of news announced at the same time as the Alaskan milestone is so critical. leCtronIC PresCrIBIng got SureScripts is joining with physicians and payers to advance the use of e-prescribing. They’re not talking about a few physicians here and there or a payer or two. The alliance includes two premier physicians Bernie Monegain, Editor organizations known for their leadership on the IT front – the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Medical Group Management Association. The payers are the Blue cross and Blue Shield Association, Humana and the Intel corporation. Together they will form The center for Improving Medication Management. Initial discussions are under way with the rAND corporation and the center to develop a project that would demonstrate how certain features of e-prescribing and eMr technology impact medication safety, medication use and labor costs for the practices involved. “We look forward to collaborating with the center to help family physicians implement health information technology that www.HealthcareITNews.com Published in partnership with Even if the pharmacies are ready for e-prescribing, it will do nothing if physicians aren’t on board, too. will improve the safety and effectiveness of medication for their patients,” said Steven Waldren, director of the AAFP’s center for Health Information Technology, and a board member of the new center. “We’re hoping to do something that hasn’t been done before,” SuresScripts ceo Kevin Hutchinson told Healthcare IT News. “We don’t want this to be simply a think tank, where we debate things like the value of standards. We want to create projects that lead to real results.” real results. We’re all ready for that. And the organizations involved in this new center are known for producing results. They are also known for keeping patient safety at the forefront. They’re on the right on-ramp. n More at healthcareitnews.com e connect: MoNeGaIN 0907 71 Pineland Drive, Suite 203 New Gloucester, ME 04260 T (207) 688-6270 F (207) 688-6273 Neil Rouda neil.rouda@medtechpublishing.com MedTech Publishing Company PUBLISHER EDITORIAL Jack Beaudoin, Editorial Director jack.beaudoin@medtechpublishing.com Patty Enrado, Contributing Editor patty.enrado@medtechpublishing.com Diana Manos, Senior Editor diana.manos@medtechpublishing.com Molly Merrill, Editorial Assistant molly.merrill@medtechpublishing.com Bernie Monegain, Editor bernie.monegain@medtechpublishing.com Richard Pizzi, Associate Editor richard.pizzi@medtechpublishing.com Eric Wicklund, Managing Editor eric.wicklund@medtechpublishing.com Nancy Vitucci nvitucci@himss.org EDITOR, HIMSS INSIDER EDITORIAL STAFF ● ADVERTISING John D. Payne, Vice President Sales john.payne@medtechpublishing.com T (207) 688-6270 F (207) 688-6273 Vincent Biunno, Eastern Sales Manager vincent.biunno@medtechpublishing.com T (201) 666-2118 F (201) 666-9660 Steven Loerch, Midwest Sales Manager steve.loerch@medtechpublishing.com T (847) 498-4520 F (847) 498-5911 Gordon Hunt, Western Sales Manager gordon.hunt@medtechpublishing.com T (949) 366-3192 F (949) 366-3193 E.J. Fechenda ellen.fechenda@medtechpublishing.com T (207) 688-6270 F (207) 688-6273 INSIDE ACCOUNT MANAGER WEST MIDWEST NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST PRODUCTION Karen Diekmann, Production Manager karen.diekmann@medtechpublishing.com MARKETING Danielle Hartley, Director, Marketing danielle.hartley@medtechpublishing.com READER SERVICES T (978) 671-0449 or cs-hitn@e-circ.net F (978)671-0460 Online: www.myHITN.com Postal mail: PO Box 9369 Lowell, MA 01853 Nicole Carter nicole.carter@medtechpublishing.com SUBSCRIPTION FULFILLMENT MANAGER CIRCULATION MANAGER CUSTOMER SERVICE On philanthropy and big pharma . . . ould you asK your CORRECTIONS Healthcare IT News is published by MedTech Publishing Company, LLC, which is solely responsible for its editorial content. Editors are expected to meet the highest professional standards for accuracy, objectivity, fairness and independence. Errors of fact are corrected as soon as the error is established and corrections are published in the medium in which the error appeared. Inquiries or disputes about the factual accuracy of the record should be directed to the editor. confidential sources in the e-prescribing business how they plan to integrate each other’s data? If there is no real-time data sharing and push technology to make sure the most accurate and current list of meds is displayed on my PDA, I’d have no use for their products. If there is a central repository of information, then it will not fit into a “for-profit” business model as they no longer control the information they want to sell to pharmaceutical companies to make money. As far as I know philanthropy is a word not in the dictionary for big pharma or big business. Narayanachar S. Murali, MD, FACP, FACG Gastroenterology Associates of Orangeburg Orangeburg, SC Peggy Tashjian cs-hitn@e-circ.net REPRINTS Reprint Management Services T (717) 399-1900, ext. 139 EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE Healthcare IT News is published in partnership with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). HIMSS members are eligible to receive Healthcare IT News and related publications – both in print and online – as a beneﬁt of membership. With the exception of the HIMSS Insider, produced by the staff of HIMSS and appears within the pages of Healthcare IT News every month, HIMSS and its leadership exercise no control over the editorial content of the newspaper and related publications. Neil Rouda VICE PRESIDENTS PRESIDENT Quotable “The AHIC succession will lead to a greater consensus among national healthcare stakeholders and lead to better healthcare in America through the widespread adoption of health IT.” – Robert M. Kolodner, MD, National coordinator for health information technology Jack Beaudoin John D. Payne Neil Rouda PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENTS Jack Beaudoin John D. Payne 2005 JESSE NEAL AWARD WINNER http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=7667 http://www.myHITN.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=7668

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare IT News - September 2007

Contents Alaska Sweep SiCKO Debate Data Exchange Rx EDITH knows Hold That Script IT in the Sun Breathing Easy IT on the Menu Ambulatory EMRs Identity Crisis

Healthcare IT News - September 2007

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