SureScripts Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Further Information Contact:
Reggi Veatch
Senior Communications Manager
veatchr@dfmc.org
410-872-9646

Delmarva Foundation to help launch “Get Connected” Campaign
Maryland named fourth in nation for e-prescribing during national kick-off

Easton, MD, May 10, 2006 - Delmarva Foundation, Medicare’s Quality Improvement Organization for the state of Maryland today announced the launch of an E-Prescribing “Get Connected” Campaign in Maryland. The campaign is a joint endeavor between Delmarva Foundation, Med Chi, the Maryland State Medical Society, the Maryland Pharmacists Association and SureScripts, the organization that provides the behind-the-scenes network to enable two-way electronic exchange of prescription information.

With the support of Maryland state pharmacies that are ready for e-prescribing, the Get Connected Campaign will begin by conducting a new survey assessment program meant to identify and support physician practices that wish to connect electronically to pharmacies in their area.

“Maryland is one of the leading states with regard to physicians and pharmacies communicating electronically; however, there are likely many more physicians using systems that could be connected to pharmacies, but are unaware of the possibility,” said Michael Tooke, MD Chief Medical Officer, Delmarva Foundation. “We hope this campaign will encourage physicians to identify the technologies their practice already uses to confirm if they are able to make this connection.”

At a launch event for the national “Get Connected” campaign, Maryland was named fourth in the nation as part of the first ever nationwide review and ranking of electronic prescribing activity. “SafeRx” recognizes how e-prescribing enhances patient safety by providing a more secure and accurate prescribing process. The award goes to the top 10 e-prescribing states in the nation and three physicians within the winning states who have demonstrated outstanding leadership through their use of e-prescribing technology.

Over 150,000 physicians in the nation currently use electronic health records (EHR), e-prescribing devices or practice management systems that can establish a two-way electronic connection to pharmacies in their area. Close to 600 pharmacies across the state are enabled for this communication including CVS, Walgreens, Giant, Rite Aid, Wal-Mart, and many independents. 

“E-prescribing promises significant time savings and greater accuracy for prescriptions - which can lower costs and improve patient safety,” said T. Michael Preston, Executive Director, Med Chi, the Maryland State Medical Society. “We are glad to partner on this effort to help more Maryland doctors move closer to electronic prescribing capability.”

With this connectivity, refill authorization requests can be sent to physician practices without relying on relatively time-consuming phone calls.  Responses to these requests, and new prescriptions, can then be sent securely and accurately from the physician’s office to the computer at the pharmacy.

Delmarva Foundation will encourage physician practices to complete the survey to determine their ability to make this electronic connection. The survey can be reviewed by visiting the Statewide Technology Assessment Web site at www.getrxconnected.com/md.

For more information about this program, and about electronic prescribing in general, contact The Electronic Prescribing Resource Center at 1-866-RxReady (866-797-3239).

For more information about Delmarva Foundation, please visit www.delmarvafoundation.org.  For more information about SureScripts, please visit www.surescripts.com.

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About Delmarva Foundation
Delmarva Foundation is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality in over 20 states. Since 1973, Delmarva has assisted in improving care in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, medical practices and health plans. Delmarva performs quality improvement, quality assurance, utilization review, external quality review and Program Safeguard activities. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Easton, Maryland with other offices in Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, DC; Columbia, South Carolina; Tampa, Florida; and Tallahassee, Florida. For more information, please visit Delmarva Foundation on the web at www.delmarvafoundation.org.