JACKSONVILLE, FLA., January 29, 2007
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Announces New Patient Safety Initiatives and Electronic Prescribing Collaborative
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) is implementing a series of initiatives aimed at improving patient safety, reducing cost and assisting physicians as they navigate new medical technologies. As a part of its Recognizing Physician Excellence program, BCBSF is providing financial incentives to providers who adopt health information technologies such as electronic medical records and e-prescribing.
BCBSF has enlisted Epocrates, the leading mobile and online drug reference guide, to provide physicians with the most current information about drugs, drug interactions, alternative medicines, health insurance formularies and drug pricing. Both the mobile and online versions of Epocrates will be available at Availity.com.
“It is estimated that 3.3 million adverse drug events occur each year,” said Dr. William Kerr, vice president and chief medical officer, BCBSF. “This can be significantly reduced by accessing online drug reference information and reviewing patient medication history to identify drug-to-drug interactions.”
Multiple studies have concluded that electronic prescribing can make significant contributions to improve the quality and affordability of health care. In fact, studies indicate that medication errors alone account for 7,000 deaths and harm 1.5 million patients per year.
BCBSF is also leading a collaborative effort among key health care stakeholders and prescribers to accelerate the adoption of electronic prescribing by establishing a new organization called ePrescribe Florida. BCBSF is initiating the outreach program with national commercial payers and will continue to expand that effort by engaging regional health plans, physicians, providers and other public and private organizations.
“We are gratified with the response we heard from the commercial health plans and their willingness to work together toward a common goal,” said Catherine Peper, vice president, health information technology, BCBSF. “A successful collaboration will bring great benefits for patients, providers, pharmacies and the health care industry.”
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is a leader in Florida’s health industry. BCBSF and its subsidiaries serve more than 8.6 million people. Since 1944, the company has been dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of all those it serves by offering an array of choices. BCBSF is a not-for-profit, policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., BCBSF is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information concerning BCBSF, please see its Web site at www.bcbsfl.com.
CONTACTS: Mark S. Wright BlueCross BlueShield of Florida PHONE: (904) 905-6935 E-MAIL: mark.wright@bcbsfl.com WEB: www.bcbsfl.com Erica Sniad Morgenstern Epocrates Public Relations PHONE: (650) 227-6907 E-MAIL: pr@epocrates.com WEB: www.epocrates.com