HIXNY Introduces Standalone E-RX Free Through 2010
Electronic Solution Improves Quality and Efficiency
ALBANY, NY (October 13, 2009) - Healthcare Information Xchange of New York (HIXNY), a not-for-profit organization comprised of local physician groups, hospitals, health care associations, health plans and other health care entities announced today that it is introducing a standalone e-prescribing (e-RX) solution free of charge through 2010 for interested physicians in the Greater Capital Region and Northern New York. The use of e-prescribing technology by physician practices can improve the quality of patient care, increase patient satisfaction, and increase efficiency in physician offices.
E-prescribing allows physicians to use computers to review drug and formulary coverage for a patient, and write and transmit prescriptions to a local pharmacy. E-prescribing also gives physicians comprehensive patient and drug information which helps ensure accuracy and patient safety and provides physicians with an efficient system to manage medication compliance and refills. E-RX is integrated with the health information exchange (HIE) for physicians who are affiliated with HIXNY member organizations.
"E-prescribing offers substantial benefits to both physicians and patients," stated Dr. Louis Snitkoff, HIXNY chairman and Medical Director at CapitalCare Medical Group. "This technology takes the place of paper prescriptions, faxes, and phone calls resulting in a safer, much more efficient solution for managing patient medications."
The HIXNY e-prescribing solution is integrated with a community Master Patient Index (MPI) and provides patient medication history, eligibility, formulary status, and clinical decision support. All of these components are available in real time resulting in faster, more accurate decision making and less data entry.
HIXNY is making this technology available, along with training and technical support, to physicians in smaller organizations which may not have the technical resources to implement such a system independently.
One significant benefit to patients is that safeguards are built into the e-RX software. The system performs a Drug Utilization Review (DUR) and delivers alerts to the prescribing physician if the patient has known allergies to the prescribed medication or if there are potential adverse interactions with other medications that have been prescribed. Patients can also save money because the physician can easily select generic alternatives and medications that comply with the patient's formulary plan.
The HIXNY e-RX system is certified as a qualified e-prescribing system by SureScripts, meeting established functionality standards for e-prescribing, e-refills, prescription history, patient eligibility, and formulary compliance. Physicians who use the HIXNY e-RX solution may be eligible for financial incentives through Medicare as outlined in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA).
Physicians interested in additional information or implementing HIXNY's e-RX solution should visit www.hixny.org/e-prescribing or contact HIXNY's e-RX implementation coordinator at (518) 357-3689.
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About Healthcare Information Xchange of New York (HIXNY)
HIXNY is a not-for-profit corporation comprised of a diverse group of health care organizations that partner for the health of the community and work together to share medical information more efficiently for the benefit of patients. HIXNY works collaboratively to enable more certain, efficient, and better decisions at the point of care. Current HIXNY members include: Albany Medical Center; Blue Shield of Northeastern New York/ Health Now; CapitalCare Medical Group; CDPHP; Columbia Memorial Hospital; Community Care Physicians; Ellis Hospital; Hometown Health Centers; Hudson Headwaters Health Network; Inter-Lakes Health; Iroquois Healthcare Association; MVP Health Care; New York Health Plan Association; Northeast Health; Prime Care Physicians; Saratoga Hospital; Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy; Seton Health; St. Mary's Hospital (Amsterdam); St. Peter's Hospital; State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health; WellCare; and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Services. For more information, visit www.hixny.org.