EAST LANSING, MICH., AND SAN MATEO, CALIF., MAY 17, 2005
Michigan State Medical Society Supports Physicians Use of Technology
Physicians Who Use Epocrates Report Time Savings, Avoiding Errors
The more than 14,000 member physicians with Michigan’s statewide medical society can now choose powerful mobile technology to assist them in delivering care to their patients thanks to an agreement between the Michigan State Medical Society and Epocrates the leading provider of mobile clinical reference software.
The Michigan State Medical Society has made great strides to keep up with the technology that can assist its members with both office administration and delivery of patient care. This new member benefit aims to further drive technology adoption by Michigan physicians which in turn enhances patient safety and satisfaction.
Through the agreement, MSMS is offering its members a significant discount on all Epocrates software including both mobile or handheld products in including the Epocrates Essential clinical reference suite, individual applications and the Internet-based desktop reference Epocrates Rx Online. Student and resident members will receive an additional discount. The discounts will be available through a link to a “Members Only” page on the MSMS web site.
“Epocrates provides a wonderful, user friendly program that gives the latest data on medications, formulary information, drug interactions, infectious disease suggestions, as well as several other useful programs. Once you use it, you will never go back to out-of-date books. It makes rounding on patients and seeing them in the office much easier,” said Paul Farr, MD, MSMS Speaker of the House of Delegates, and a Kent County gastroenterologist.
Epocrates recently surveyed 200 of the more then 4,000 Michigan physicians who subscribe to its products. Respondents reported avoiding both adverse drug events and medical errors and saving time. Ninety percent said they believed that Epocrates had helped them avoid at least one adverse drug events (ADE) or medical errors. Forty-one percent said they save 11 – 29 minutes per day by using Epocrates products, 32 percent said 30 – 60 minutes per day, and nearly 5 percent saved more than 60 minutes per day.
“We are pleased to team up with the Michigan State Medical Society to support their adoption of technology to enhance patient care. The results reported by Michigan physicians who already use Epocrates products show the benefit that society members can achieve with mobile technology,” said Kirk Loevner, Epocrates, Inc. CEO.
About Michigan State Medical Society
With more than 14,000 members and a 139-year history, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) is one of the strongest and most influential state medical societies in the nation. Since its inception in 1866, MSMS has had one mission: to ensure that Michigan physicians and other health care professionals are able to provide the best possible care to their patients. As a professional association, MSMS represents its physician members on issues such as state and federal health care policy, third party reimbursement, continuing education, practice management services, charitable efforts, and more.
CONTACTS: Erica Sniad Morgenstern Epocrates Public Relations PHONE: (650) 227-6907 E-MAIL: pr@epocrates.com WEB: www.epocrates.com David Fox Director, Public Relations PHONE: (517) 336-5731 E-MAIL: dkfox@msms.org WEB: www.msms.org