Guest guest Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/02/14/prescription.data.reut/index.html Patient drug records going digital Tuesday, February 14, 2006; Posted: 9:55 a.m. EST (14:55 GMT) WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- For the first time, doctors in some U.S. states will be able to view a comprehensive electronic history of a patient's medication use, pharmacy officials announced Monday as part of an effort to move the nation to digital health records. With a patient's permission, a physician will have online access to all the medicines he or she has been prescribed, dosages and whether prescriptions are being filled and refilled. The information will be supplied to doctors from pharmacies via the SureScripts network, founded in 2001 by two pharmacy industry associations. SureScripts plans to launch the new service starting April 1 in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Nevada, Tennessee, New Jersey and Florida, and to have it running in at least 10 states by year end. It will be free for doctors and pharmacies. SureScripts is a joint venture of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, which includes members like Walgreen Co. and CVS Corp., and the National Community Pharmacists Association, representing independent drug stores. Knowing all the medicines a patient takes is important for avoiding potentially dangerous drug interactions. Patients often do not know the drug names or dosages, especially if they are taking half a dozen prescription drugs or more. " In many instances, patients take in all their medications and simply hand them to (the doctor). You won't have to do that " under the new system, said Hutchinson, chief executive of SureScripts. Patients will have access to their own information, probably starting this summer after steps to ensure privacy and security are completed, Hutchinson said. The announcement is the latest step toward digital health records, which are promoted as a way to reduce costs and improve care. President Bush has set a goal of having fully electronic medical records for most Americans by 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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