March 2004 - Issue No. 33
Epocrates Teams Up with 5MCC to Launch Integrated Disease/Drug Guide

Some might call it a marriage made in the exam room. For years now, Griffith's 5-minute Clinical Consult and Epocrates Rx® have been the most popular medical PDA applications around. But while Griffith's 5MCC offers the best in concise disease information -- differential diagnosis, labs, treatment, risk factors, patient education, ICD-9 codes, and such --and Epocrates Rx offers the best in drug reference, the two have been separate applications.
No more. In response to your many requests, we've created Epocrates Dx™, our 5MCC-powered companion guide to Epocrates Rx. For full user reviews, see www.pdamd.com.
Low on Memory? Save $$$ with a PDAMD Bundle

For a limited time, you can get Epocrates Dx™ bundled with a 32MB Palm Tungsten E for only $199 (a $60 savings). Bundles are available for other Palm models as well. This special offer includes a new Palm mobile computer, a one-year subscription to Epocrates Dx and the PalProtection Plan Plus extended warranty. For more information click here.


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Check Out the Latest Features in Epocrates Rx Pro™ 6.51

Several enhancements have been made to both Epocrates Rx® and Epocrates Rx Pro™. Epocrates Rx and Epocrates Rx Pro users will both enjoy quick and easy one-sync installation, better data compression and faster AutoUpdates.

Epocrates Rx Pro users – be sure to check out the new integrated weight based dosing calculator, and note the quick one-tap access to Epocrates ID™.


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Got Formularies? They are One of Epocrates Most Popular Features

"As a practicing pediatrician in a large suburban group practice, Epocrates has proven invaluable in assisting me in my work. The formularies of all major players in my region are available in the Epocrates Rx database. I regularly tap into the formulary features including coverage, co-pay levels and requirements for prior authorization, and check for therapeutic and generic alternatives. This saves my patients time, and substantially reduces my administrative hassles with both insurers and pharmacies. In addition, my patients enjoy the overall "high-tech" feel to their visit."

Philip Goldstein, MD
Pediatric Medical Associates
Rydal and Norristown, PA

Why do so many Epocrates subscribers access health plan and hospital formulary information on Epocrates’ applications?

There are many reasons. Epocrates’ formulary features:
  • Are easy to use -- Provide therapeutic alternatives and clarify formulary restrictions
  • Save patients' money and improve patient safety -- Help you prescribe appropriate medications that are covered by your patient’s insurance
  • Help decrease time-consuming pharmacy callbacks -- Can save significant time for physicians, patients and health plans
  • Eliminate the need for printed formulary books! -- Include up-to-date formulary information for hundreds of health plans and hospitals
How do the Epocrates formulary features work?
Tap on codes (e.g., 2, 3) for formulary information
"Tap here for Alternatives"
Sort alternatives by code or by drug

Have you downloaded the formularies in your region?

Epocrates currently hosts formulary information for health plans and hospitals representing over 100 million members. Our clients include Anthem, Humana, Horizon, Oxford, United Healthcare, numerous Blues plans, State Medicaid programs and other commercial and Medicaid health plans. 2004 Drug List changes are now available for most health plans – AutoUpdate now to receive the latest formulary information.

In 2004, we have already added 22 new formularies, including Bluegrass Family Health, CAPE Health Plan, CMSP, Colorado Access, TRICARE Mid-Atlantic, Jane Phillips Medical Center, M-Care, United Healthcare and University of Michigan. To download any of these formularies to your PDA, click on "Add Formularies" on our website.

If your health plan or hospital is interested in learning more about our formulary hosting services, please email businessdevelopment@epocrates.com


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Epocrates Advocate of the Month –
Joshua Rassen, MD

Advocate of the Month
Dr. Joshua Rassen is Epocrates Advocate of the Month in part thanks to his recent assistance with a video news release that Epocrates produced on the impact of Epocrates’ products on enhancing patient care and safety. Dr. Rassen has been a long time user and supporter or Epocrates products and even recalls providing feedback on product development in the company’s early days!

"I have a lot of patients particularly who are seniors and it’s not unusual these days to have people on five or more medications. I can go in and add all of a patient’s medications, one by one and literally see how they work together. One of the common medications we use is an anticoagulant called Morphorin, and when you go through the drug interactions that are listed in the Epocrates program, there are at least 11 herbal preparations that are known to have drug interactions. Eight of them increase the risk of bleeding, three of them decrease the effectiveness of the medication, which is mostly given to prevent strokes.

Additionally, the issue of medication costs frequently comes up, More and more people have to pay for their medications and to give them some sense of what they’re looking at is a very big helpful in the discussion and negotiation as to how they will be taking the medication.

I keep my PDA and Epocrates literally in my left hand pocket and am probably pulling it out 5 – 10 times a day for one thing or another."

Joshua Rassen, MD
San Francisco, CA

Advocate Program
We created the Advocate Program for users who are interested in sharing information about Epocrates software with colleagues. For example, many Advocates demonstrate Epocrates software at medical society conferences and academic grand rounds.

If you would like to become an Epocrates Advocate, please write to advocates@epocrates.com so we can email you an informational PowerPoint presentation and other educational tools.


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Epocrates Needs You!

You may be familiar with our Advocate Program for users who are interested in sharing information about Epocrates applications with colleagues. For example, many Advocates demonstrate Epocrates products at medical society conferences and academic grand rounds.

Epocrates is now creating a Press Advocate Program. We often receive inquiries from members of the news media who would like to speak with physicians, dentists, pharmacists, health care professionals and even students who use Epocrates’ various products. If you are interested in and comfortable with speaking to the press, please let us know you. In your e-mail response, be sure to provide us with your complete contact information: name, credentials or titles, city and state, your sub-specialty (if applicable), and most importantly, a telephone number. Reporters are often on deadline and an Epocrates team member may need to contact you. If you would like to become an Epocrates Press Advocate, please write to advocates@epocrates.com.


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This concludes the March issue of the Epocrates Newsletter.

Best wishes,

The Epocrates Team