United Physicians to Enhance Patient Safety and Reduce Prescription Drug Costs With E-Prescribing
Posted on: Wednesday, 13 September 2006, 12:00 CDT
BINGHAM FARMS, Mich., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- United Physicians, P.C., the largest independent physician organization in Southeast Michigan, is deploying electronic prescribing technology to its 1,700 private practice doctors.
United Physicians is rolling out the e-prescribing technology to its members following a successful three-month pilot test at six physician offices involving 10 doctors. The project is modeled on the successful Southeast Michigan e-Prescribing Initiative (SEMI) launched in 2005. SEMI members Health Alliance Plan (HAP) and Henry Ford Medical Group are assisting the United Physicians effort.
"HAP and Henry Ford have led the way in e-prescribing in this region, and the outcomes toward enhanced patient safety and reduced costs are compelling," said Steven Grant, M.D., F.A.C.P., president and chief executive officer of United Physicians. "We are grateful for their support and look forward to the benefits that e-prescribing will bring to our members and their patients."
With e-prescribing, United Physicians members will use a wireless tablet or desktop computer to write and electronically transmit prescriptions instantly to pharmacies. Handwritten prescriptions -- which can be misread or illegible -- are eliminated with e-prescribing.
Doctors using e-prescribing receive alerts to patient drug allergies, drug interactions and therapeutic duplication. They can access insurance plan eligibility and formulary compliance, authorize renewals and refills, and easily track a patient's medication history. A doctor can perform these e- prescribing functions while seeing a patient or away from the office.
"Using e-prescribing has improved our office workflow by significantly reducing phone calls to and from pharmacies related to prescriptions," said United Physicians member and pilot participant Gary Langnas, D.O., of Oakland Medical Group. "The features related to patient safety, such as drug interactions and formulary information, are very helpful."
DrFirst Rcopia e-prescribing tool featured
United Physicians selected DrFirst and its flagship product, Rcopia, for the e-Prescribing rollout. Rcopia is the nation's leading full-featured stand- alone electronic prescription management system and the leading e-prescribing tool in Michigan.
"DrFirst is proud to be involved in this collaborative program," said G. Cameron Deemer, SVP and general manager of DrFirst. "By providing Rcopia e- prescribing to its members, United Physicians is taking its place among the thought leaders in Michigan who have made a strong commitment to patient safety and to introducing the benefits of e-prescribing to physicians and pharmacies in the state."
Results of the United Physicians e-prescribing pilot, which began May 24 and concluded Aug. 29 involving 10 doctors, include:
* 4,794 prescriptions were written electronically.
* 1,655 prescriptions were changed or cancelled due to drug-to-drug interaction alerts. Electronic messages alerted doctors to 190 potential allergic reactions.
* 119 prescriptions were changed or cancelled due to formulary alerts, which increased the use of generic drugs.
A report issued in July by the Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, estimated that more than 1.5 million Americans are injured every year by drug errors.
About United Physicians, P.C.
United Physicians is a physician organization of 1,700 independent doctors practicing in Southeast Michigan. United Physicians facilitates physician participation in health care plans and provides services that promote quality and efficiency in the practice and business of health care. Visit http://www.unitedphysiciansgroup.com/ .
About DrFirst
DrFirst is a national provider of physician connectivity services through its award-winning Rcopia electronic prescription management system. Founded in 2000, DrFirst creates innovative services targeted to physicians in both ambulatory and acute care environments. With a strong emphasis on products that link physicians, patients, pharmacies, and payers, DrFirst works to lower healthcare costs while improving clinical outcomes. DrFirst solutions are widely integrated with practice management and electronic medical records software through its "Open Borders" program, and the company counts among its client base, not only physician practices, but major health plans, health systems, and EMR vendors. More information about DrFirst can be found at http://www.drfirst.com/ .
United Physicians, P.C.
CONTACT: Bob Doetsch of United Physicians, P.C., +1-248-593-0195,bdoetsch@unitedphysiciansgroup.com ; Irene Froehlich of DrFirst, Inc.,+1-240-671-3320, ifroehlich@drfirst.com ; or Liz Manasse of Health AlliancePlan, +1-248-443-1072, emanasse@hap.org
Web site: http://www.unitedphysiciansgroup.com/http://www.drfirst.com/
Source: PRNewswire
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