According to lead researcher Esther Hing, a statistician at CDC's U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, 78 percent of physicians were using electronic health record (EHR) systems in 2013, compared to 35 in 2007. The rapid implementation of the technology is now reaching almost all doctors, and near 100 percent adoption is expected in the very near future. With so many healthcare providers using this technology, the next step is to create applications that can use the information generated by the EHR systems, while offering solutions that can deliver more efficiency and cost saving measures. Ace Innovation Group has launched an app that gives physicians access to prescription discount information while they are consulting with their patients.
The benefit of having smart mobile devices, such as tablets, as part of the medical practice, is it gives doctors access to more resources. The Co-Pay mobile app was developed by Dr. Sandeep Grewal, M.D. to provide prescription discount options which patients might not have had access to in the past. With a database of more than 1,600 medications discounted directly by the pharmaceutical firms, doctors will be able to help their patients save money.
"Now, physicians can check to see which medications will be available to their patients thanks to knowing about the discounts. This can save the patient a huge amount of money," said Dr. Grewal.
The app notifies physicians and consumers about available copay and cash pay discounts on branded and generic prescription medications. The discounts come directly from the pharmaceutical companies, allowing doctors to offer their patients affordable brand name medications whether they get approval from their insurance companies or not.
ACE Innovation Group was founded in 2012 to create health related product for consumers. It brings together physicians and tech experts to provide healthcare products and discounts directly from the manufacturers to the consumers in a platform that can be easily accessed by non- medical consumers.
The app is available on Android and iOS platforms.
As EHRs continue to see increased adoption, the benefit they offer is more than just replacing paper to keep records. Doctors now have more access to improve the quality and convenience of patient care while increasing participation. This will result in more accurate diagnoses and better health outcomes by improving care coordination amongst all interested parties no matter where they are, thereby increasing the level of efficiency and lowering costs.
Edited by
Adam Brandt
