05/18/2012
Yesterday, FDA and industry stakeholders discussed a proposal to create a national prescription drug tracking system to combat counterfeit drugs. The provision could be added to a bill to reauthorize FDA's prescription drug and medical device user-fee programs. Politico et al.
05/17/2012
The Federal Communications Commission has announced a plan to allocate spectrum for medical body area networks, which use wireless sensors to monitor patients and transmit data to a central computer. FCC is set to vote on the plan next week. The Hill's "Hillicon Valley" et al.
05/14/2012
A new study by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania finds that an accountability tool embedded in an electronic health record system could reduce unnecessary CT scans among emergency department patients with abdominal pain. United Press International, CMIO.
05/11/2012
An upgraded database developed by the Utah Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing offers information on disciplinary orders against licensed health professionals, including explanations and copies of the disciplinary actions. Government Technology.
05/07/2012
Last week, a Missouri state senator led an eight-hour filibuster to block the passage of a bill that would have authorized the state to create a prescription drug monitoring database. The senator said the bill would have infringed on patients' privacy rights. AP/Kansas City Star.
05/02/2012
An Institute of Medicine report recommends that FDA improve its processes for monitoring the safety of prescription drugs after they are approved. FDA currently uses IT initiatives like the Sentinel system to conduct post-approval monitoring of prescription drug safety. According to IOM, improvements in health IT and analytics could help advance such monitoring efforts. Reuters et al.
04/30/2012
Experts are raising concerns about the safety of electronic health record systems as the tools become more widespread. However, some stakeholders are hesitant to focus on EHR safety out of fear that doctors will be reluctant to adopt the systems. Boston Globe, Health Affairs.
04/30/2012
A simulated test conducted by the Leapfrog Group finds that computerized provider order entry systems did not generate appropriate warnings for more than one-third of routine medication orders in 2011. The group previously found that CPOE systems did not generate appropriate alerts for about half of routine medication orders between 2008 and 2010. Modern Healthcare, FierceHealthIT.
04/30/2012
A survey finds that 85% of nurses and nursing students say they would like to access prescription drug guides through their mobile phones. Seventy-one percent of nursing professionals said they use a smartphone for work. FierceMobileHealthcare, Wolters Kluwer Health release.
04/26/2012
According to a New York Times editorial, New York lawmakers are approaching a deal on legislation to create a real-time database to track prescriptions for controlled substances. The editorial states that such a system could help curb prescription drug misuse. New York Times.
04/23/2012
Including treatment indications in electronic prescriptions could make it easier to track off-label usage of prescription drugs, according to a study. The study finds that 11% of e-prescriptions issued through a Canadian electronic health record network were for off-label use. CMIO.
04/23/2012
FDA is leveraging IT initiatives like the Sentinel program as part of its efforts to better monitor drugs after they are approved for the market. Sentinel is an electronic surveillance system that tracks drug safety information from various databases. Reuters, Modern Healthcare.
04/20/2012
A newly revised draft of HHS' National Action Plan To Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections emphasizes how health IT could play a role in monitoring and preventing HAIs. The draft action plan notes that clinical decision support tools in electronic health record systems could generate HAI prevention reminders. Modern Healthcare, Health Data Management.
04/20/2012
Kentucky lawmakers are weighing a bill to expand access to the state's prescription drug tracking database. Supporters say the bill would help law enforcement officials combat prescription drug misuse, while opponents say the bill could lead to invasions of privacy. Wall Street Journal.
04/19/2012
An FDA user fee bill introduced by Sens. Tom Harkin and Michael Enzi includes language that would require HHS to issue a final rule establishing a unique device identifier system for medical devices by the end of 2012. The language calls for HHS to implement the UDI system to electronically track and recall faulty medical devices "as soon as practical." Health Data Management.