Statement by Representatives From Community Pharmacy Regarding the Institute of Medicine Report and Electronic Prescribing28 July 2006
for us all to take action."
It is in that spirit that the nation's pharmacies recently joined together with medical societies, pharmacist associations and healthcare leaders from across the country to launch an educational campaign to help physicians get the information and resources they need to start e-prescribing. The "Get Connected" campaign begins with an assessment that is designed to help physicians determine if their practice already possesses the technology to establish a direct, two-way, computer-to-computer connection with their local pharmacies. Practices are sent the one-page assessment by fax and mail, or have the option to complete it online.
The community pharmacy industry estimates that approximately 150,000 physicians in the United States could be using, right now, their existing electronic medical record (EMR) or prescription writing software to send and receive prescriptions electronically to and from their local pharmacists' computers. The problem: most are not aware of this. The result: most are not e-prescribing, but instead are merely faxing.
For more information about the e-prescribing technology assessment and to complete it online, physicians can go to www.GetRxConnected.com. Physicians also can call with questions about the assessment or electronic prescribing in general: 1-866-RxReady (1-866-797-3239).
Upon completing and submitting the technology assessment, practices receive a personalized Practice Capability Report. Based on a physician's individual answers to the assessment, the report includes an estimate of the time and associated costs currently spent by the practice managing the refill process. The report specifies if a physician's practice possesses the technology to establish a true electronic connection with pharmacies in their area and outlines steps to get connected.
The Get Connected campaign also serves as a chance for even more pharmacists to Get Connected by going to www.GetRxConnected.com/pharmacist.
Patients who are interested in finding out more about how electronic prescribing benefits them and their families can go to www.GetRxConnected.com/patients. The web site also features helpful advice on how residents can help their physician Get Connected to their local community pharmacy.
About NACDS
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) represents the nation's leading retail chain pharmacies and suppliers, helping them better meet the changing needs of their patients and customers. Chain pharmacies operate more than 37,000 pharmacies, employ 114,000 pharmacists, fill more than 2.3 billion prescriptions yearly, and have annual sales of nearly $700 billion. Other members include more than 1,000 suppliers of products and services to the chain drug industry. NACDS international membership has grown to include 93 members from 30 countries. For more information about NACDS, visit www.nacds.org.
About NCPA
The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 24,000 pharmacies. The nation's independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises and independent chains employ more than 400,000 people and represent a $98 billion marketplace, dispensing nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines.
About SureScripts
SureScripts®, the largest network provider of electronic prescribing services, is committed to building relationships within the health care community and working collaboratively with key industry stakeholders and organizations to improve the safety, efficiency and quality of health care by improving the overall prescribing process. At the core of this improvement effort is the SureScripts Electronic Prescribing Network™, a health care infrastructure which establishes electronic communications between pharmacists and physicians and enables the two-way electronic exchange of prescription information. Today, 90 percent of all pharmacies in the United States are certified on the SureScripts network. More information about SureScripts is available at www.surescripts.com.
SureScripts Contact: Rob Cronin 917-414-5289 rob.cronin@surescripts.com
SOURCE: SureScripts
Source: marketwire
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