SureScripts adds partners

SureScripts has signed up two more partners for its electronic prescribing network. Physician Micro Systems, a leader in the development of electronic health records, will connect its Practice Partner Patients Records clinical solution to the SureScripts network. Healthcare software solutions firm, Wellogic, will connect its Web-based healthcare portal, Wellogic Consult, and its underlying health information exchange platform to SureScripts as well. SureScripts will certify both firms and test the systems to ensure successful transmission of e-scripts.

Medicare 101 There are only 10 months left until the Medicare Rx drug benefit goes live, and that means many R.Ph.s have some boning up to do before they can help seniors sort it all out. The Kaiser Family Foundation hosts one source of Medicare information. The http://www.KaiserEDU.org/ site includes an oral tutorial and slides on the drug benefit at http://www.kaiseredu.org/Tutorials/index.cfm. And there's a Medicare Rx benefit fact sheet at http://www.kff.org/medicare/7044.cfm.

Peas in an OmniPod Insulet Corp. has received FDA approval of its first commercial product, OmniPod Insulin Management System. The two-part system combines continuous subcutaneous insulin delivery and blood glucose monitoring in one device. Worn on the skin beneath clothing, the small, lightweight device combines an integrated infusion set, automatic inserter, and insulin reservoir. It delivers insulin according to preprogrammed instructions from the wireless handheld personal diabetes manager. The Bedford, Mass., firm expects the device to be available later this year by prescription. The Web site is at http://www.MyOmniPod.com/.

Speaking of e-scripts Medco Health Solutions, the Big Three automakers, and Michigan health plans will coordinate an employer-driven e-prescribing initiative to validate the technology. The Southeast Michigan e-Prescribing Initiative (SEMI) will equip up to 17,000 physicians with technology tools to access patient medical and drug information and send prescriptions to retail and mail-order pharmacies through the RxHub portal.

In step A dozen drugstore chains are among the 27 healthcare groups that have joined the Maryland Safety Through Electronic Prescribing (STEP) initiative, the first in the nation. Other members include insurers, physician groups, RxHub, SureScripts, and the Maryland Pharmacists Association. The group's primary goal is to speed up voluntary adoption of e-prescribing among physician practices to improve patient care.