MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire doctors now have immediate access to medical records and histories for their Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield patients.
The insurer says doctors signed up for its electronic prescription program now will have access to the records by using their computer or Internet-enabled cell phone.
In October, with the support of Gov. John Lynch, Anthem and the New Hampshire Citizens Health Initiative launched a statewide electronic prescribing program for doctors to use regardless of their patients' health plan. The program alerts doctors to potentially dangerous drug interactions.
"Now all licensed New Hampshire practitioners who are part of our ePrescribing program are also able to access both medical records and claims data on Anthem members, anytime, anywhere by using their web-enabled cell phone," said Dr. Richard Lafleur, Anthem's medical director.
The new technology enhances electronic prescribing by delivering clinical information to the doctor. The doctor looking to generate an electronic prescription can quickly access their Anthem patients' medical history, getting valuable information on medical conditions and the patient's most recent care, test results or diagnoses by other clinicians.
"Having access to up-to-the-minute information on what is going on with a patient and their health can be vital in helping determine the best care decisions possible," said Dr, Azar Korbey, a family practitioner from Salem.
Doctors can access the ePrescribing system from a variety of cellular carriers.
More than three billion prescriptions are written annually in the United States, with medication errors resulting in $77 billion in costs and 7,000 deaths per year, according to Anthem.
Currently, fewer than 22 percent of physicians nationwide use the basic capabilities of electronic prescribing, according to the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The center estimates the technology could eliminate as many as two million harmful drug incidents annually.
The ePrescribing program is supported by the National ePrescribing Patient Safety Initiative, a coalition of the nations leading health care and technology companies that have joined to provide free ePrescribing technology for every physician in America.
