Healthcare Software automates medication reconciliation.June 1, 2007 -
MediREC(TM) collects, displays, and documents patient medication information from admission to discharge. Web-based application, intended for documenting and managing patient's list of home medications, is combined with drug history interface to create electronic medication record that facilitates reconciliation throughout patient's hospital stay. With MediREC, hospitals can electronically access medication histories upon admission before any treatment begins.
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Original Press release
Mediware Information Systems
1220 Ivywood Dr.
Springfield, IL, 62704
USA
Mediware Information Systems Introduces Software to Automate Medication Reconciliation
New product provides distinct safety, efficiency and productivity improvements for healthcare organizations
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 8 -- During its annual Medication Management User Group Conference, held in Kansas City, Missouri, Mediware Information Systems (NASDAQ:MEDW) formally announced the availability of MediREC, a new product. MediREC is an automated medication reconciliation tool that collects, displays and documents patient medication information from admission to discharge. MediREC enables hospitals to automate mandatory medication reconciliation processes and provides a critical improvement in providing safe and efficient hospital care.
According to published studies, nearly 60 percent of all drug-related errors in hospitals stem from insufficient medication history awareness. In a move to significantly reduce the estimated 400,000 preventable drug-related injuries occurring in hospitals every year, The Joint Commission (for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) has mandated that healthcare providers implement a process to review and reconcile patient medications at admission, transfer of care within the hospital, and at discharge.
In most situations, hospitals have created paper based processes to address the new mandate, processes that are time consuming and increase the risk of error.
"There are countless examples of situations when a lack of information about patient medication history caused harm or death," said Kevin Ketzel, vice president and general manager of Mediware's Medication Management Division. "MediREC provides hospital emergency and admissions departments a critical resource to inform doctors, nurses and pharmacists about the medications a patient has been taking before any new prescriptions are ordered."
An important, and complex, requirement of the medication reconciliation process is the capture, documentation and reconciliation of a patient's home medications. With MediREC, hospitals electronically access patient medication histories upon admission, before any treatment begins. Medication histories are pulled from an industry medication database, which includes prescriptions fulfilled through retail pharmacies, mail order suppliers and Medicare Part D providers. MediREC also creates an electronic medication record to facilitate easy and accurate reconciliation throughout the patient's hospital stay.
"Being able to quickly access a one year medication history upon admission protects both patients and hospital staff from adverse events that can result from inaccurate or incomplete information," continued Ketzel. "When a patient arrives in critical condition and a family member is not available, nurses can easily determine what medications are potentially in the bloodstream -- a fact that could prevent adverse reactions that could cause severe trauma or death."
The medication reconciliation process involves collecting the patient's medical history, ensuring accuracy of the medication information, and reconciling the drug list at critical points of care, such as admission, transfer and discharge. MediREC consists of a web-based application for documenting and managing the patient's list of home medications and a drug history interface to enable hospitals to obtain comprehensive lists of known patient medications from various sources.
Mediware has experienced tremendous interest in MediREC and signed three clients prior to the product's formal release. MediREC is being marketed as both a stand-alone system as well as an integrated component of Mediware's Medication Management suite of software products. Mediware's other medication management software products include the WORx(R) pharmacy information system, MediMAR(TM) for bedside administration and documentation, and MediCOE(TM) for electronic order entry.
About MediREC(TM)
MediREC automates mandatory medication reconciliation processes by electronically capturing patients' home medication histories and creating a hospital based medication record to enable care providers to quickly and accurately track medications given during the course of care. MediREC is deployable as a stand-alone product or as a part of Mediware's full Medication Management suite.
About Mediware
Mediware delivers powerful software solutions that encapsulate patient care instructions, reinforce patient safety practices and improve efficiencies to lower costs. Mediware targets three primary areas of patient care -- Medication Management, Perioperative Management and Blood Management (transfusion, inventory and donor practices) -- with specialized solutions that are proven in more than 1,000 client installations. Mediware's customers include prestigious hospitals, clinics, correctional institutions, blood centers and other public and private health care institutions throughout the world. For more information, visit http://www.mediware.com/.
CONTACT: John Van Blaricum of Mediware Information Systems, +1-913-307-1017, john.vanblaricum@mediware.com
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