Technology Update

The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) has created a new work group focused on the long-term care marketplace. NCPDP decided to set up WG14 after a focus group of industry representatives demonstrated a need for a single place where companies and associations can come together to seek solutions for long-term care transaction issues. These issues include prior authorization, coordination of benefits, compounded drugs, and home infusion billing.

Chronic condition Ortho Biotech has built a Web-based directory for information about chronic kidney disease (CKD). It can be found at http://www.KidneyResource.com/. The site includes information for patients about the risk factors for chronic kidney disease, living with the condition, and treatment options. There's also a segment for healthcare professionals, including information on resources and organizations.

Microsoft seal of approval Innovation Associates has earned certified status in Microsoft's Partner Program. As a Certified Partner, the Johnson City, N.Y., pharmacy automation firm has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and ability to meet customer needs. Microsoft set up the Partner Program in December 2003 as an ongoing commitment to the success of its partners.

Clock-watcher Medicine-On-Time has launched a real-time software interface. This interface links the medication therapy management system to Rx30 Pharmacy Systems products. The interface also eliminates redundant data entry and increases data accuracy for Rx30's 2,000 pharmacy clients who also use the Medicine-On-Time system that prepackages patients' multiple drugs into dosage cups that are labeled with the administration date and time.

Turn on Lexi-Comp has released Lexi-ON, a new line of application programming interfaces (APIs) and Web services to make its medical databases compatible with other software programs, such as PatientKeeper, InfoPOEMS, and Mercury MD. The APIs help existing applications talk to each other, which eliminates the need for closing out one program in order to access another. The API technology is compatible with any personal digital assistant software for integration with Lexi On-Hand databases. There's more information at http://www.lexi.com/ or e-mail dan.krinsky@lexi.com
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Bridge, anyone? Wolters Kluwer Health launched the .NET edition of its Drug Information Bridge v2.1 for seamless linkage to its Medi-Span drug information databases. DIB v2.1 is integrated with the Medi-Span Foundation Library, allowing customers to incorporate other Medi-Span products, such as the drug dosing and administration database and Drug Facts & Comparisons. For additional details, visit http://www.medi-span.com/ or contact Charles Conroy at cconroy@drugfacts.com
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Lion's share Lionville Systems has unveiled its iCart for Point of Care. It has combined advanced med cart features with mobile computing to advance the five rights of medication administration, according to the Exton, Pa., company. The iCart technology includes bar-code scanning, keyless entry systems, automatic relocking capability, and a motion sensor.