Health care providers have been granted a bit of flexibility in how they use certified electronic health records (EHR) technology in meeting federal Meaningful Use requirements for 2014. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have announced that providers will be allowed to use EHR technology certified to 2011 Meaningful Use standards to meet Stage-2 requirements, but for 2014 … Read More
Study finds opioid use common amongst disabled Medicare recipients
A recent study illuminates the prevalence of opioid painkiller use in a particularly vulnerable population: disabled Americans on Social Security disability insurance. The article, published in the September edition of the journal Medical Care, found the percentage of Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) recipients younger than 65 receiving any amount of opioid prescriptions rose from 43.9 percent in 2007 to … Read More
Meaningful Use requirements linked to fewer adverse drug events
The use of health information technology enhancements, such as clinical decision support tools, can help reduce adverse drug events (ADEs) in hospitals by between 27.3 and 69.2 percent, according to a recently released study of Florida hospitals. The research scrutinizes what impact Meaningful Use (MU) requirements for implementing electronic health records (EHR) systems had on patient care, and the results … Read More
Study: Elderly patients at greater risk of kidney injury if on antipsychotic drugs
New research into the risks of three common antipsychotic drugs for the elderly suggests older patients are 73 percent more likely to experience acute kidney injury (AKI) while on any of the three medications. The research, published in the August 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, examined the medical records of nearly 100,000 adults 65 and older who … Read More
TCAPP and Genelex: Partners in battling pediatric pain
It’s tragic when a young life is haunted by the specter of a disease that causes chronic pain. Such afflictions affect child and family both, making the availability of caregiver resources all the more vital. Since 2011, The Coalition Against Pediatric Pain (TCAPP) has been supporting families of children affected by chronic pain from rare diseases and has brought many … Read More
Participating in life again: A patient story of pediatric pain
Barbara Granoff, Founding Member of The Coalition Against Pediatric Pain (TCAPP), says her 15-year-old daughter’s life was changed by the DNA drug sensitivity testing Genelex offers. Shira is living with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome as well as dysautonomia, gastroparesis, Mast Cell Activation Disorder and more. “The amount of medications we tried in hopes of controlling the pain is mind boggling,” mother … Read More
Can the Marriage of Pharmacogenetics and EHRs Solve Adoption Problems?
Don’t be intimidated by the idea of starting to use pharmacogenetics in your clinic – the tools you need may already be at your disposal. The New England Healthcare Institute states that medication management tools such as pharmacogenetic testing can help reduce readmissions and prevent costly adverse drug events. After all, a 2010 study by Davies et al. found that … Read More
Opioid Overdose Continues to Rise
A worrisome trend continues. Despite medical and government efforts, opioid-related deaths continue to rise across the country. According to the CDC, drug overdose death rates have more than doubled in the past 15 years and now take more lives than automobile accidents among 25 to 64-year-olds. Rates of abuse seem highest in white, middle-aged males and translate to a financial … Read More
St. Jude Implements PG4KDS Pharmacogenetic Testing
One of the biggest barriers to the adoption of pharmacogenetics is uncertainty about implementation, but major institutions are already pursing pharmacogenetics. For instance, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital just published their pediatric pharmacogenetics program model. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment facility located in Memphis, Tennessee that’s famous for its dedication to patient care and its embrace … Read More
Study Shows Promise for Reducing Unnecessary Procedures
An immense medication management trial sponsored by Leumit Health Care Services, an Israeli health fund, and Teva Pharmaceuticals is ending this year. The trial examined the clinical outcomes of using integrated drug and gene interaction alerts in an EHR, something few other studies have done and which has been sorely needed in the industry. The study involved Leumit integrating a … Read More