Promoting E-prescribing Project

REVISED WORK PLAN

June 28, 2004

 

Objective

To accelerate the use of E-prescribing by: 1) adopting guiding principles that define and encourage a patient role, 2) promoting various ongoing initiatives supportive of those principles, 3) disseminating information to patients about the potential benefits of E-prescribing.

 

Summary

This project will involve a two-tiered effort to accelerate the adoption of E-prescribing.   An initial phase of research and discussion will yield a draft set of guiding principles that can be used to establish a baseline standard for E-prescribing.  This standard may exist as a novel set of principles defined by the working group, it may be adopted entirely from existing efforts, or it may represent a combination of both existing and novel ideas.  Working alone or in partnership with the eHEALTH Initiative, the Coalition working group will identify and define the patient role in E-prescribing. 

 

The full Coalition will then approve and coordinate a media campaign to publicize the recommendations of the working group.   Specifically, the campaign will educate patients about the benefits of E-prescribing and their roles as health care consumers in advancing its use. 

 

Staff

It is likely that SOS Rx will work with the eHEALTH Initiative on this project.  The Coalition will be represented by members of the e-prescribing working group, but representation from the eHEALTH Initiative has yet to be determined.  The SOS Rx point person for this project is Will Lang, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

 

Steps

 

  1. Conduct a preliminary review of electronic health initiatives that involve an E-prescribing component. 
    1. Research initiatives via web and through direct consultation with knowledgeable parties (e.g., AACP)
    2. Determine how various E-prescribing efforts are being implemented (i.e., learn how the systems work, who is affected, and how)
    3. Based on this information, develop a draft set of guiding principles.

 

  1. Convene a working group of coalition members and other interested parties including Will Lang (point person), DOD, VA, ASCP, ASHP, Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors, AHRQ and Express Scripts.
    1. Present and discuss general parameters of E-prescribing initiatives based on preliminary research.
    2. Vet guiding principles, and consider revisions as necessary.
    3. Review discussed principles in the context of the e-prescribing report issued by the eHEALTH Initiative in May.

 

  1. Develop partnership with external organization such as eHEALTH Initiative.
    1. Adopt (either as is or with modifications) the definition and principles of e-prescribing set forth in the eHEALTH report. 
    2. Infuse current definition with patient-focus.  
    3. Reconvene working group with representation from eHEALTH to consider all patient “touch points” in the prescribing process and to establish patient role in promoting e-prescribing.

 

  1. Present the methods and resulting E-prescribing model to the full coalition. 
    1. Obtain buy-in from the coalition to support and promote the recommendations of the joint working group and eHEALTH session.

 

  1. Develop proposal for AHRQ small conference grant to facilitate development and dissemination of the coalition’s findings and recommendations with regard to E-prescribing.

 

  1. Hold conference on the E-prescribing initiative and use the event as a launching point for the broader campaign to educate patients.

 

  1. Develop and implement stakeholder (includes patient and prescriber) education campaign.

 

 

Timeline

Jan – March 2004: Identify attendees for the sub-group meeting; establish time and date for meeting; conduct preliminary review of E-prescribing initiatives and prepare an initial list; develop draft of guiding principles for E-prescribing.

 

April – May 2004: Convene working group meeting (maybe as part of full coalition meeting on the 7th) and discuss guiding principles; revise principles document as necessary; conduct further research on E-prescribing initiatives; develop initial side-by-side comparison of all initiatives.

 

June – September 2004: Engage in discussions with possible partners external to the Coalition.  Convene meeting(s) to examine patient role in e-prescribing and ensure that definitions/principles are adequately patient focused.  Obtain full Coalition approval to move forward with proposed definitions and principles.   

 

October – December 2004: submit AHRQ grant proposal; plan conference; begin development of stakeholder education campaign.

 

Budget

SOS Rx has initial funding from Express Scripts to host expert meeting(s), conduct focus groups, and perform initial stakeholder education and outreach.  Additional funds will be needed to take this Working Group’s plans any furthersought to advance the selected strategy for promoting E-prescribing.