New Research from BGU Shows Electronic Notifications about Drug Substitutes are Effective in Reducing Prescription Drug Costs
New Research from BGU Shows Electronic Notifications about Drug Substitutes are Effective in Reducing Prescription Drug Costs
June 24, 2011
Medical Research, Press Releases
Beer-Sheva, Israel – A recently published study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) suggests that Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) can reduce prescription drug costs with implementation of electronic notifications about alternative drug choices.
The study, published in Medical Decision Making, found that 70 percent of physicians using the electronic medical records (Clicks® EMR) system for prescribing drugs either complied on their own or accepted a suggestion of the system for an alternative drug choice (e.g., generic equivalent). The change in physician prescription habits yielded savings of at least 4 percent in drug costs.
The cross-sectional observational study monitored the prescription activity of 647 general practitioners and specialists at an HMO in Israel. During the study period, participants prescribed more than 5 million drug prescriptions, of which 1.2 million evoked drug substitution notifications for less expensive alternative therapies. The prescribing physicians were under no obligation to comply with the computer-generated suggestions, but were asked to provide an explanation if they elected not to accept the suggestion.
“The study shows that compliance was not automatic,” said researcher Prof. Joseph S. Pliskin, chairman of BGU’s Department of Health Systems Management. “The physicians follow a thoughtful cognitive process and maintaining quality of care guides physician prescription choices.”
Since prescription drugs costs are a major part of healthcare costs, the study authors believe that the results may be useful in helping contain rising prescription drug costs by allowing physicians to make cost-effective drug choices and at the same time maintain high quality of care.
“As electronic medical record systems become more commonplace among healthcare providers, we hope the resulting efficiencies uncovered by research, such as this BGU study, will help reduce healthcare costs, which we know is a huge problem in the U.S.,” explains Doron Krakow, executive vice president at American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. “Our donors support BGU medical programs that have a direct impact on healthcare delivery and treatments, not just in Israel, but in the U.S. and around the world.”
Citation:
“Electronic Notifications about Drug Substitutes Can Change Physician Prescription Habits: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study”
Zucker A, Heart T, Parmet Y, Pliskin N, and Pliskin JS
Medical Decision Making May/June 2011 31: 395-404
ABOUT AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY
By supporting a world-class academic institution that not only nurtures the Negev, but also shares its expertise locally and globally, Americans for Ben-Gurion University engages a community of Americans who are committed to improving the world. David Ben-Gurion envisioned that Israel’s future would be forged in the Negev. The cutting-edge research carried out at Ben-Gurion University drives that vision by sustaining a desert Silicon Valley, with the “Stanford of the Negev” at its center. The Americans for Ben-Gurion University movement supports a 21st century unifying vision for Israel by rallying around BGU’s remarkable work and role as an apolitical beacon of light in the Negev desert.
About Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev embraces the endless potential we have as individuals and as a commonality to adapt and to thrive in changing environments. Inspired by our location in the desert, we aim to discover, to create, and to develop solutions to dynamic challenges, to pose questions that have yet to be asked, and to push beyond the boundaries of the commonly accepted and possible.
We are proud to be a central force for inclusion, diversity and innovation in Israel, and we strive to extend the Negev’s potential and our entrepreneurial spirit throughout the world. For example, the multi-disciplinary School for Sustainability and Climate Change at BGU leverages over 50 years of expertise on living and thriving in the desert into scalable solutions for people everywhere.
BGU at a glance:
20,000 students | 800 senior faculty | 3 campuses | 6 faculties: humanities & social sciences, health sciences, engineering sciences, natural sciences, business & management, and desert research.
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516.289.1496
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