Thus, it prevent prescription falsification and abuse of controlled medicationsalong with the identification of unusual or excessive prescribing patterns, and the ability to monitor whether a patient is receiving prescriptions from multiple doctors for similar medications, among other advantages.
Likewise, it is very important that there are automatic controls to alert about possible dosing errorsdetection of allergies or dangerous interactions with other medications, when integrated with medical history systems. This aspect is of interest to patientshealth system providers and insurers.
In response to these situations, two key variables emerge as fundamental pillars to improve the efficiency and quality of services: Comprehensive Medication Management and the implementation of the Electronic Prescription.
When are implemented in a coordinated mannerhave the power to radically transform the way medications are administered and used, benefiting all actors involved: insurers, health providers, pharmacies and, of course, patients.
These two central variables can optimize the healthcare system, providing technological solutions that allow healthcare organizations to efficiently and transparently manage the use of medications.
Comprehensive Medication Management
Comprehensive Medication Management It is essential to ensure the availability, quality, and rational use of medicinesthus guaranteeing the effectiveness of treatments and the safety of patients.
This is an approach that ranges from selection and acquisition of medications, going through storage and distributionuntil its correct prescription and dispensing.
Health providers are given the peace of mind knowing that what they are prescribing has some level of verificationand it gives the beneficiaries or patients greater security, in relation to the doses being correct. In this way, medication errors are avoided, which produce thousands of avoidable deaths in the world, as explained by the World Health Organization (WHO).
It also includes the safe disposal of expired medications or not used, minimizing the environmental impact and avoiding health risks.
It also allows avoid drug interactions. For example, by warning when prescribing a medication to lower blood pressure to a patient who is already taking another medication that raises blood pressure.
Besides, optimizes the use of resources and contributes to the financial sustainability of the system. By implementing rigorous drug selection, acquisition and distribution processes, health funders can control costsprevent waste and ensure the constant availability of essential drugs.
Among other advantages, health system financiers incorrect prescriptions are avoided and polypharmacy is avoided. In fact, we did a very interesting study in Colombia with a health insurer that had polymedicated patients.
What happens is that When a patient is given more than three drugs for chronic pathologies, the fourth drug always has an interaction with one of the other three. And in 90-100% of cases it has an interaction that is detrimental to the patient’s health.
In parallel, and by promoting the rational use of medications, reducing the incidence of adverse effects and improving therapeutic results, decreases the need for additional treatments and hospitalizationsallowing insurers to offer higher quality services at a more efficient cost.
Among his main effectsefficient medication management:
- Reduces health system costs
- Increases safety in prescribing medications.
- It allows you to avoid adverse effects of the medication.
- Enhances public health results
- Improves the quality of life of the population
Impact of electronic prescriptions on medication management
The incorporation of electronic recipes in the health ecosystem of a country, allow resolve this lack of coordination.
In Argentina, electronic or digital prescriptions are regulated by the Law 27,553which establishes that they must be unique, unalterable and secure. Furthermore, they must ensure data protection.
The novelty is that starting July 1, 2024the process of mandatory incorporation of electronic prescriptions began, which must be completed in January 2025.
At that time, all health insurers that operate in Argentina, including social and prepaid works, must have the electronic signature incorporated.
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In this sense, title XI of the Decree of Necessity and Urgency DNU 70/2023Bases for the Reconstruction of the Argentine Economy, establishes that all medical prescriptions, including the prescription and dispensing of medications, must be carried out exclusively through prepared and signed digital recipes on authorized electronic platforms.
Incidence of technology in the comprehensive management of medications
For efficient comprehensive management the key is to incorporate a technological solution that facilitates prescriptioncontrol and supply of medicines, rationalizing its use in favor of the actors of the health ecosystem.
That is, generating the conditions for a measurable and traceable management of prescription medicationstaking into account all the actors involved in the process: insurers, providers and patients.
This involves efficient patient identification, the precise prescription based on relevance and rationalityand automation based on business rules.
Also Understand security and responsibility with electronic prescription signingand technological flexibility for integration with pharmacies. In addition to comprehensive traceability for the financierand the visibility and control of medical spending in real time.
From there, comprehensive digitalized medication management will allow you to optimize operational processes to enhance performance management, raise the quality of patient care, achieve the ideal balance in the use of financial resources, and comply with current regulations.
Source: Ambito
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