Allscripts offers new system for e-orders in ED

When should antianemia agents be covered?

There are 10 areas related to CMS’ proposal to restrictcoverage of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs)to which Amgen takes exception. For instance, CMShas proposed limiting coverage of ESA treatment to12 weeks per year. Amgen said there is no clinical evidenceto support this recommendation. Likewise,CMS’ decision to initiate therapy at a hemoglobinupper limit of 9 gm/dl in each month is notsound, the Thousand Oaks, Calif., companycontended. For more on Amgen’s objections,check out the company’s complete statementon its Web site, http://www.amgen.com/

New system for e-orders in ED:

Out of the frying pan and into the fire?

Manypatients on Suboxone or Subutex (buprenorphine,Reckitt Benckiser) don’t realize that the drug, whichthey’re taking to break their addiction to OxyContin(oxycodone, Purdue Pharma), Vicodin (acetaminophen/hydrocodone bitartrate, Abbott), Lortab (acetaminophen/hydrocodone bitartrate, UCB/Mallinckrodt),or fentanyl, can be just as habit-forming. That’sthe conclusion of a new on-line survey conducted byThe Waismann Method, which uses neuroregulationtherapy to treat opiate dependency. The survey foundthat 66% of respondents reported that they could notstop taking the drug without assistance, while 47%said they weren’t told by their doctors that they coulddevelop a physical dependency to Suboxone.

Don’t rely solely on computers to avert errors:

Technology firm to launch robotic system:

Untilnow, Artromick, a developer of medication managementand healthcare technology, has primarily beenrecognized as serving the long-term care market. Butthe Columbus, Ohio, firm wants to raise its profileamong hospitals. Following its 2005 launch of a lineof mobile computing carts for hospitals, Artromick ispreparing to introduce a medication managementwork flow model, including a pharmacy automationrobotics system called Paxit, for 2008. For more information,check out http://www.artromick.com/.

New module enhances billing of chemo drugs:

There’s a new enhancement to IntelliDose, an informationsystem that automates chemotherapycare. It’s IntelliCharge by the Waltham, Mass., firmIntrinsiQ, LLC. IntelliCharge helps with the billingof chemotherapy drugs by automatically calculatingchemotherapy encounter charges taken from nursingnotes. This eliminates the need for paper and avertsinaccurate or incomplete bills. The IntelliChargemodule was launched at the recent ASCO annualmeeting in Chicago.