Surescripts, a health information network, has expanded its real-time Medication History for Reconciliation (MHR) service to long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) facilities, and is now serving users of SigmaCare and Homecare Homebase. SigmaCare is a leading technology provider for the senior and post-acute care market. Homecare Homebase is a leading home health software provider.
The ability to effectively and efficiently serve the LTPAC market is becoming increasingly vital, as the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population aged 65 and older will double by 2050. In less than 12 months, Surescripts has already delivered more than 200,000 patient medication histories to users in LTPAC settings, helping optimize patient care and safety while reducing time and costs.
“As the aging population continues to grow, it is critical for long-term and post-acute care providers to have the most complete patient data possible,” said Mike Pritts, Chief Product Officer of Surescripts. “Many patients in LTPAC facilities and seniors with in-home care have multiple medications prescribed by several doctors. With Surescripts, providers can easily access their patients’ medication data, helping them make better-informed decisions that improve care and safety.”
From admission to discharge and beyond, Surescripts helps providers reduce costly adverse drug events (ADEs) and associated readmissions by providing more complete and up-to-date medication histories. Providers get instant access to 12-month historical views of patients’ medication data sourced from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and pharmacies. The information is used to examine patient compliance, improve medication adherence and make better-informed decisions about new drug therapies and patient care plans. Other benefits include reducing manual transcription errors and unreported drugs.
“In home healthcare, providers need to deliver high-quality care outside of a typical clinical setting, so it can be difficult to obtain complete patient information in real time,” said Scott Pattillo, Chief Strategy Officer of Homecare Homebase.
“By connecting to Surescripts, our providers have access to the most complete patient medication history information, so they can provide high-quality and better-informed care.”
In July 2016, Homecare Homebase became the first post-acute software provider to make Surescripts Medication History service available to its users. Their software is used by 77,000 field clinicians, representing 25% of the home health and hospice market and serving more than 400,000 patients daily.
“In long-term and post-acute care facilities, healthcare providers need to administer quality care quickly and efficiently, but they often lack adequate information,” said Fred Martin, Vice President of Product Management and Strategy at SigmaCare. “Now with Surescripts, our customers have access to comprehensive medication history information, so they can provide timely and improved care to their patients.”
SigmaCare partners with senior and post-acute care providers to achieve success by delivering a comprehensive technology platform with electronic health records (EHR) and advanced clinical decision support, enterprise analytics, financials and customer relationship management solutions. SigmaCare adopted Surescripts Medication History in April 2016, and serves home health, hospice, skilled nursing and assisted living providers across the United States.
