Bringing Prescribing and Fulfillment of Specialty Medications Into the 21st Century
Often, to prescribe the specialty drug, the physician must write a letter requesting the health plan to cover it and provide lab and/or test results to verify medical necessity. Meanwhile, the patient, who typically has a complex, difficult-to-manage health condition, waits needlessly for a drug that they hope will improve their health and quality of life.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 70 – Using Technology to Get Complete Medication Histories
On episode 70 of PSQH: The Podcast, Chris Roark, Chief Information Officer of Stillwater Medical Center, talks about using technology to get complete medication histories.
A Broader Look at Pain Management: Use Four-Legged Approach for Patients With Chronic Pain
A shocking 73% of young adults (ages 18–34) say they are in pain every day, according to results of a new Harris Poll survey conducted on behalf of the Samueli Foundation—and 22% of that same age group report using cannabis products to treat their chronic pain.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 68 – Using Genetic Data to Prevent Adverse Drug Reactions
On episode 68 of PSQH: The Podcast, Dr. Houda Hachad, Vice President of Clinical Operations at AccessDx Laboratory, talks about using genetic data to prevent adverse drug reactions.
Pain Relief vs. Addiction and Overdose: Four Steps to Maintain an Appropriate Equilibrium
Opioids have become a substance of concern due to their propensity to spark misuse and addiction. Tragically, the CDC estimates that there have been about 1 million drug overdose deaths since 1999, of which 82.3% involved a synthetic opioid.
Medication Adherence: Technology’s Role in Improving Outcomes
A lack of prescription adherence has cost the U.S. more than $524 billion a year due to morbidity and mortality, according to the PAN Foundation. Organizations must look for ways to remove barriers to adherence to ensure patients can access the prescriptions they need, including through the utilization of technology platforms.
Can Ready-to-Administer Syringes Improve Patient Care, Reduce Medical Errors, and Support a Greener Environment?
As a replacement for the error-prone bedside act of drawing up medication from a glass vial, RTA syringe technology provides a prefilled polymer syringe that has a color-coded plunger, is prelabeled, and boasts an impressive shelf life. The time savings in providing busy clinicians with equipment requiring no preparation is self-evident.
Using Technology to Improve Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
The cutting edge of digital health and home testing is bumping up against norms in society and medicine as the healthcare industry tackles a substance abuse epidemic. An organization that epitomizes this challenge is Bicycle Health, a Boston-based provider treating more than 8,000 patients in 29 states for opioid use disorder.
Medication Safety Recognition Program Designed to Improve Employee Engagement
Concord (New Hampshire) Hospital began its medication safety recognition program, which was introduced in 2016 and then revised in 2017, in the pharmacy department with the goals of improving the quality of medication errors reported, increasing the number of individuals who consistently reported medication errors, and increasing employee engagement.
Lessons Learned From the RaDonda Vaught Case
Change does not happen overnight; it takes time, strategy, and concerted effort. Take the U.S. commercial aviation industry, for instance. Over the past 20 years, the sector has decreased its overall fatality rates by 95%. This was achieved with the support of the Federal Aviation Administration, which worked with the industry to form a number of programs that monitor for and ensure compliance, like the Commercial Aviation Safety Team.