RNA Health Information Systems Co-Recipient of $1 Million Grant for e-Prescribing Pilot

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Englewood, Ohio (January 23, 2006) - RNA® Health Information Systems (www.rnahealth.com), a leading provider of software for long-term care pharmacies, was recently named a major partner in a $1,149,000 grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Of four recently funded AHRQ e-prescribing pilots, only this RNA-related effort specifically involves the long-term care community.

The grant will fund Achieve Healthcare Technologies’ 12-month pilot project to develop e-prescribing standards in the long-term care environment. Testing will involve electronic communication between facilities, pharmacies and physicians.

RNA’s eRxRequest™ product is an integral component of the e-prescribing pilot. With eRxRequest, nurses use portable barcode scanners to scan barcoded prescription labels for refilling and reordering at time of medication administration. RNA-developed software electronically transfers the reorder information to the pharmacy via the Internet.

In addition to Achieve Healthcare Technologies and RNA Health Information Systems, the pilot participants include:

Benedictine Health Systems – a values-based health care organization operating skilled, assisted living, and independent living facilities;
Preferred Choice Pharmacy – A full service institutional pharmacy now in its fourth year utilizing the RNA Eagle™ Long-Term Care Software;
RxHub – a nationwide exchange network enabling physicians to prescribe the most cost effective and clinically appropriate prescription, and then send the prescription to the patient’s pharmacy of choice;
Prime Therapeutics LLC – a pharmacy benefit management organization that is collectively owned by various Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those plans;
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota – a health plan that covers 2.6 million members in Minnesota and nationally;
Minnesota Department of Human Services – a state agency that is proactive in developing e-prescribing standards and facilitates the state’s Medicaid program.

According to RNA president Gary Schoettmer, “RNA is excited about continuing its industry-leading innovation to help shape the future of e-prescribing in the long-term care community. We appreciate CMS’ recognition of our commitment to improved resident care, and we look forward to the synergies between RNA and the other pilot participants.”

For more information on this e-prescribing pilot program, contact RNA Health Information Systems at 800-762-9378.