February 14, 2019
Medication non-adherence exacts a heavy toll, both on patients and the broader healthcare industry. According to a review in the Annals of Internal Medicine, 20 to 30 percent of medication prescriptions are never filled, and approximately 50 percent of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed.
Read MoreSeptember 11, 2018
With Hurricane Florence threatening to wreak havoc on the East Coast this week, the devasting images from last year’s hurricane season come to mind: the flooded neighborhoods and boat rescues in Houston; the flattened homes and splintered boats across Florida and the Caribbean; the thousands dead in Puerto Rico.
Read MoreJuly 26, 2018
Addressing the nation’s opioid crisis is no simple task. It’s a multi-factorial problem that must include multi-pronged solutions—including cooperation and collaboration among the medical and pharmacy communities, government, social programs, and regulatory agencies. PDMPs (prescription drug monitoring programs) are one way that states are working with doctors to keep them informed about their patients’ opioid prescribing histories, especially as related to coordination of care with other providers.
Read MoreJune 12, 2018
At the recent CRITICAL CONNECTIONS Opioid Crisis Symposium organized by Modern Healthcare, the complexity of the opioid problem was clear. As one of the worst epidemics the US has faced in its history, the causes and cures must be tackled from many directions including prevention, education, and treatment.
Read MoreApril 25, 2018
Combating the Opioid Crisis, Together DrFirst’s technology is being increasingly used across the country to fight the opioid epidemic by giving prescribers the tools they need to identify patients who are addicted, or at risk of becoming addicted, to these dangerous drugs.
Read MoreFebruary 12, 2018
I’ve been a member of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) for 23 years, most of that time as CIO of Huntington Hospital in Huntington, New York. When I was invited to join CHIME’s Opioid Task Force, I knew I had to accept, believing strongly that CHIME is uniquely positioned to advocate for meaningful change in how healthcare organizations address the national emergency of opioid addiction.
Read MoreDecember 21, 2017
DrFirst wholeheartedly supports efforts to combat the national opioid crisis. While the focus on increasing awareness of this deadly epidemic is valuable, we must consider and address the underlying issues that have driven the situation to crisis proportions. Without that, we run the risk, as we are starting to see now, of prescribers and the healthcare industry reacting to the opioid crisis by simply reducing opioid prescribing.
Read MoreDecember 19, 2017
Think about the last time you logged into your computer just to check the weather or determine what movie you want to see on the weekend. You can probably measure the time in weeks or months. The reality for most of us is that mobile devices are rapidly supplementing or replacing desktop computers and laptops as our go-to devices for information during what we call in healthcare the “ADLs” – Activities of Daily Living”.
Read MoreDecember 12, 2017
“There’ll be much mistletoeing And hearts will be glowing When love ones are near It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” If you love the holiday season, you likely share Andy Williams’s enthusiasm for the wealth of celebrations and fun activities this time of year.
Read MoreDecember 8, 2017
Listed below are the top ten reasons why dentists should use e-prescribing in their dental practices.
1. Improve Patient Safety
E-prescribing can significantly reduce medication errors that claim an estimated 7,000 lives each year in the US. The ADA Council on Dental Practices notes that these errors are caused primarily by illegible handwriting, unclear abbreviations, dose errors, ambiguous orders and fax clarity—most of which are avoidable with e-prescribing.
June 28, 2017
Hospital executives believe that applying a multidisciplinary effort will improve their medication reconciliation process, according to a recent study by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) Foundation on behalf of DrFirst. Yet, despite their efforts to engage multiple departments, 3 out of 4 respondents still worry that medication history data is incomplete and/or inaccurate.
Read MoreApril 14, 2017
For decades, passengers on the London Underground (“the Tube”) were warned to “mind the gap” by the omnipresent, automated male voice, cautioning them to avoid stepping into the significant – yet somehow often unseen – space between the edge of the platform and the subway train.
Read MoreApril 3, 2017
The ability to communicate effectively is an essential skill, whether you are a clinician, teacher, politician or in any occupation that requires people interaction. If you are married or a parent, you definitely understand the need for clear dialogue in relationships, as well as the frustrations that can arise when it is lacking!
Read MorePatient Innovations Team
June 12, 2018
At the recent CRITICAL CONNECTIONS Opioid Crisis Symposium organized by Modern Healthcare, the complexity of the opioid problem was clear. As one of the worst epidemics the US has faced in its history, the causes and cures must be tackled from many directions including prevention, education, and treatment.
Read MoreMarch 15, 2017
Standing in front of the joint session of Congress, President Trump vowed to end America’s “terrible drug epidemic.” The same week, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed legislation mandating statewide electronic prescribing of controlled substances by 2020. The legislation, along with the executive’s mention of the devastating problem, signals an emerging trend: state and federal government officials are taking action against opioid addiction and are using EPCS as a vehicle to curb the rising death toll.
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