The site is designed to be a national system where providers can report safety issues related to the use of EHRs. Reported events will be confidential but used as the basis to generate other reports that medical societies, malpractice insurers and government agencies can use "to help educate providers on the potential challenges that EHR systems may bring," according to the alliance. The Food and Drug Administration will use data collected on the site to assist in evaluating safety issues that may arise during the forthcoming widespread implementation of EHRs.
The PDR Network, which distributes drug labeling information, FDA-issued product safety alerts and other services such as the Physicians' Desk Reference, will operate the network. Participating insurers, medical societies, EHR vendors and other entities will have links to EHRevent.org on their own Web sites. A similar site to report adverse medication events, RxEvent.org, will launch in 30 to 60 days.
Initial supporters of EHRevent.org include the American Medical Association and some state medical societies, American Cancer Society, National Patient Safety Foundation, American Pharmacists Association, CentrEast Regional Extension Center in Texas, and EHR vendor eMDs Inc.
Federal agency supporters include the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Food and Drug Administration. Malpractice carrier supporters include COPIC Insurance Company and The Doctors Company.
--Joseph Goedert
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