WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergency room physicians insured by MedAmerica Mutual reported avoiding a range of medical errors in a survey completed by the insurer in the fourth quarter of 2004. MedAmerica Mutual is a physician-directed, controlled and governed professional liability insurer specializing in serving emergency physicians and their medical groups.
The survey was conducted over the course of 2003 - 2004 with MedAmerica Mutual's insured physicians in an ongoing effort to assess the impact of the Mutual's support of handheld technology use. In 2001, MedAmerica Mutual provided its insured physicians with handheld computers or PDAs -- and subsequently subsidies to purchase the Epocrates Rx Pro(TM) drug reference guide. Over that time, PDA ownership has grown significantly among its insured base and MedAmerica Mutual has continued to provide its physicians with subsidies for Epocrates mobile software.
Over 66% of the 224 respondents said they use their PDA to look up information and perform medical calculations on every shift, with an additional 15% using their PDAs on more than half of their shifts. When asked to describe how the PDA was used in their clinical practice, 93% said as a drug reference, 56% a medical calculator and 38% medical reference.
Most importantly, respondents reported the types of medical errors they had avoided by using PDAs, with 65% saying they had avoided a dosing error; 58% a dosing frequency error; 25% a drug error; 24% a therapeutic error; and 18% another type of error.
"This survey demonstrates the impact of embracing innovative ways to increase patient safety. Epocrates has proven its value in the emergency room," said Gloria H. Everett, CEO, MedAmerica Mutual RRG, Inc. "Epocrates fits into our strategic vision by providing us with an effective patient safety tool. We definitely see a benefit by ensuring that the physician can access the drug and clinical information at the patient's bedside."
The relationship between MedAmerica Mutual and Epocrates began as part of a risk management initiative in 2001, when MedAmerica Mutual distributed over 500 PDAs, handheld computers, with the original version of Epocrates Rx(R) software to their insured physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Patient safety has been enhanced through the convenience of accessing medication information electronically at the patient's bedside with just a few taps on the PDA.
The Epocrates Rx Pro drug reference includes over 3,500 monographs including adult and pediatric dosing, contraindications and cautions and adverse reactions; an alternative medicine guide covering over 400 herbals; the MultiCheck(R) function capable of checking up to 30 drugs simultaneously for interactions; health plan formulary coverage and retail prices; the Epocrates ID(R) infectious disease treatment guide; and built-in dosing and medical calculators. For more information go to http://www.epocrates.com/.
About MedAmerica Mutual
MedAmerica Mutual is a physician-directed, controlled and governed professional liability insurer specializing in serving emergency physicians and their medical groups. MedAmerica Mutual Risk Retention Group, Inc., is rated B++ (Secure) by A.M Best & Co., the nation's premier insurance company financial rating organization. The Company has grown in financial strength in each of the past twelve years while saving policyholders premium dollars in the process. More information about MedAmerica Mutual can be found at http://www.mmrrg.com/.
MedAmerica MutualCONTACT: Tara Gregory, Integrated Risk Associate of MedAmerica Mutual,+1-925-949-0108, or gregoryt@mmrrg.com
Web site: http://www.epocrates.com/
Web site: http://www.mmrrg.com/