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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Mobile Technology Helps Clinicians Reduce Medical Errors And Prescription Drug Costs
BERLIN, Vt. and SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 9 -- Blue Cross and
Blue Shield of Vermont announced today that physicians and other health care
professionals throughout Vermont now have convenient access to Blue Cross and
Blue Shield of Vermont prescription drug benefit information via the latest
mobile technology.
Providers will have access to Blue Cross and Blue Shield's list of covered
drugs through the Epocrates hand-held drug reference applications designed for
the Palm OS and Pocket PC platforms and through the Epocrates Rx Online(TM)
reference available for Internet-connected desktop computers. All Epocrates
products are easily downloadable via the Internet and are currently used by
over 27 percent of Vermont physicians.
Within the Epocrates drug reference applications, providers can easily
check formulary status, prior authorization requirements, alternatives,
generic substitutes and quantity limits. The drug reference also includes over
3,000 drug monographs along with indications, a built-in dosing calculator,
contraindications, drug interactions, adverse reactions, cost information, and
the MultiCheck(R) function capable of checking up to 30 drugs simultaneously
for interactions.
"This service will enable physicians to quickly and easily identify the
most appropriate drug for our members, thereby improving the quality of their
care," said Dr. John Grossomanides, Director of Pharmacy for Blue Cross and
Blue Shield and its HMO affiliate, The Vermont Health Plan. "This tool also
will make it easier for physicians to access cost information and incorporate
that important factor into their discussions with their patients."
In addition to the importance of clinicians and patients discussing
clinical aspects of prescribed medication, there is growing recognition of the
need to discuss drug costs -- before writing the prescription. A University of
Michigan study funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality showed that drug costs impact
whether patients continue their drug regimens. Many chronically ill patients
never tell their doctor or nurse they've had to cut back on prescription drugs
because they are too expensive, and many physicians never ask if the drugs are
unaffordable according to the report published in the September 13, 2004 issue
of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Another study by researchers from the University of Michigan Health System
and Cleveland Clinic published in the June issue of the Journal of General
Internal Medicine, looked at the impact of higher co-pays on cholesterol
lowering drugs and found that nearly half of patients who have a prescription
for any of the cholesterol-fighting drugs called statins fail to fill their
prescription often enough -- or stop filling it altogether. Patients whose
out-of-pocket costs are more than $20 for each month's supply are three times
more likely to fall behind on their prescription, and four times more likely
to stop taking the drug altogether, than those whose co-pay is under $10.
"By being able to not only look up drug reference information at the
point-of-care, but also co-pay schedules, health plan formularies, the
availability of lower cost generics and even approximate retail prices, health
care professionals who rely on Epocrates are equipped to communicate about all
aspects of medication with patients," said Andrew Burns, vice president of
Health Services, Epocrates.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is the state's oldest and largest
private health insurer, providing health benefits coverage for about
180,000 Vermonters. It employs over 350 Vermonters at its headquarters in
Berlin and branch office in Williston, and offers group and individual health
plans. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is an independent corporation
operating under a license with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an
association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more
information, visit http://www.bcbsvt.com.
About Epocrates, Inc.
San Mateo, CA-based Epocrates Inc. is the leading provider of clinical
information at the point of care, with more than 420,000 health care
professionals, including over 25 percent of U.S. physicians, actively using
its products. Epocrates' product offering is led by the Epocrates(R)
Essentials mobile clinical reference suite featuring all of the key decision
support applications -- drugs, diseases, and diagnostics -- required for
today's health care professional. The Epocrates Rx(R) and Epocrates Rx
Pro(TM) drug reference products are the most widely used in the industry, by
individual clinicians and by medical groups, hospitals, universities and
medical libraries. Epocrates also provides formulary information from health
plans, hospitals, Medicaid agencies and pharmacy benefit management (PBM)
companies that represent over 95 million individuals, and messaging and market
research services. For more information, visit http://www.epocrates.com.
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