As you can imagine, new drugs are continually being introduced by the pharmaceutical industry for the treatment of various medical conditions. At the same time, older drugs which are not as effective or have too many side affects go out of use. Physicians in clinical practice have a variety of ways for staying on top of these changes. One way is the Monthly Prescribing Reference (MPR). MPR is a periodical published each month which incorporates the newest treatments on the market but does not include medications that are no longer in common use. Most drugs in the MPR have been on the market for years if not decades.
The MPR is the source used by MedLetters to create it’s database of medication descriptions. This includes about 750 different drugs and drug combinations. (Some medications in the MPR are not appropriate for the primary care setting and were not included, for example, IV cancer chemotherapy drugs.) The question has come up about how up to date the MedLetters database is regarding new drugs introduced into the healthcare system. The answer is that we make every effort to be current with the newest and best treatments available so that users of the MedLetters database have access to plain English descriptions of the latest drugs. And the MPR is the way we do it.
Patient Communication Fast and Easy
Friday, November 5, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
EMR versus EHR versus PHR
MedLetters is poised to become part of the electronic medical information industry. Though MedLetters is designed to be a "take home" letter for patients and caregivers after a clinical visit, these letters will also make a valuable contribution to Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Electronic Health Records (EHR), and Personal Health Records (PHR). I'd like to explain a bit about the difference between these kinds of computer systems.
EMR
Electronic medical records are computer programs used by medical clinics and hospitals for compiling and organizing patient testing, evaluation, and treatment information. An EMR allows for easy access to things like xrays, notes from previous visits, and an uptodate medication list. With the current paper files, it might be difficult to get an "overview" of a patient's medical history, and it's easy for something to be missed (e.g., a visit to the emergency room in another town).
EHR
Electronic health record is the term used when an individual's medical record is passed from one EMR to another (for example, from the hospital's EMR to a patient's primary care doctor's clinic EMR). This transfer of information is not a simple thing considering there are thousands of different EMRs.
PHR
Personal health records are a third kind of computer system. These are the "portals" that allow patients to have access to their own health information. Most hospital systems have these available to patients, but they are still relatively new and often a bit too complicated for the typical patient. A PHR works by a patient going to the hospital's PHR website, logging in, and then able to view lab and test results, notes from previous visits, and medications. Often these sites are "just the facts," and this is where MedLetters can be of particular value.
A patient who sees on their PHR that their blood test indicates they have anemia may not understand what that means, how they developed it, and what should be done. Without explanation one might think it's just a fancy word for "no big deal," or a death sentence.
MedLetters as part of a clinical visit serves multiple needs. It serves as a clinical summary of a visit to the doctor. It is an educational, informational tool to help patients stay informed about their condition and treatment. It's a reminder of medication dosage and schedule, and what to watch for. Most importantly, perhaps, is that a MedLetters letter is a way for your doctor to say, "I'm with you in this."
EMR
Electronic medical records are computer programs used by medical clinics and hospitals for compiling and organizing patient testing, evaluation, and treatment information. An EMR allows for easy access to things like xrays, notes from previous visits, and an uptodate medication list. With the current paper files, it might be difficult to get an "overview" of a patient's medical history, and it's easy for something to be missed (e.g., a visit to the emergency room in another town).
EHR
Electronic health record is the term used when an individual's medical record is passed from one EMR to another (for example, from the hospital's EMR to a patient's primary care doctor's clinic EMR). This transfer of information is not a simple thing considering there are thousands of different EMRs.
PHR
Personal health records are a third kind of computer system. These are the "portals" that allow patients to have access to their own health information. Most hospital systems have these available to patients, but they are still relatively new and often a bit too complicated for the typical patient. A PHR works by a patient going to the hospital's PHR website, logging in, and then able to view lab and test results, notes from previous visits, and medications. Often these sites are "just the facts," and this is where MedLetters can be of particular value.
A patient who sees on their PHR that their blood test indicates they have anemia may not understand what that means, how they developed it, and what should be done. Without explanation one might think it's just a fancy word for "no big deal," or a death sentence.
MedLetters as part of a clinical visit serves multiple needs. It serves as a clinical summary of a visit to the doctor. It is an educational, informational tool to help patients stay informed about their condition and treatment. It's a reminder of medication dosage and schedule, and what to watch for. Most importantly, perhaps, is that a MedLetters letter is a way for your doctor to say, "I'm with you in this."
Monday, November 1, 2010
Gaining Momentum with Halo and Creighton BEP
Things have been so busy lately that I've let this blog go. Since our last entry lots of very cool things have happened.
This semester MedLetters has been part of the Creighton Bioscience Entrepreneur Program, a graduate program in the College of Business Administration. Special thanks go to Anne York, the professor in charge of the program, for inviting MedLetters to be part of it. The students who are working on MedLetters in the program are Julie Mahoney (MBA student), Joseph Formanek (finance-slash-biology), and Josh Jarrell (law student).
MedLetters has also been accepted into the Halo Institute, a not-for-profit organization that helps start-up companies with needed services and advice. We have moved into the Halo Institute offices (3rd floor of Brandeis building on the Creighton campus) and started making great connections.
The place of MedLetters in the larger context of healthcare and information technology is gradually unfolding for us. This is an exciting time, and exciting things are happening.
This semester MedLetters has been part of the Creighton Bioscience Entrepreneur Program, a graduate program in the College of Business Administration. Special thanks go to Anne York, the professor in charge of the program, for inviting MedLetters to be part of it. The students who are working on MedLetters in the program are Julie Mahoney (MBA student), Joseph Formanek (finance-slash-biology), and Josh Jarrell (law student).
MedLetters has also been accepted into the Halo Institute, a not-for-profit organization that helps start-up companies with needed services and advice. We have moved into the Halo Institute offices (3rd floor of Brandeis building on the Creighton campus) and started making great connections.
The place of MedLetters in the larger context of healthcare and information technology is gradually unfolding for us. This is an exciting time, and exciting things are happening.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Successful Launch
This is such an exciting time at MedLetters! The celebration of MedLetters' official launch was nice, and the event of opening our metaphorical doors for business has been successful. MedLetters is officially open for business: up and running and able to take credit cards. Now we start getting the word out and working on increasing our customer base.
Our first official marketing tool (other than the MedLetters website itself) was a postcard mailing sent out to 350 Family Practice physicians in the Greater Omaha-Lincoln area just before the launch. The card was intended to introduce the name of MedLetters and give an overview of what MedLetters is. A second card has come out this week that focuses more on how the letters and website fit into clinical practice. These post cards will be followed up with a letter intended to describe the use and value of MedLetters for providers and ask for an opportunity to come and show them the website.
Our first official marketing tool (other than the MedLetters website itself) was a postcard mailing sent out to 350 Family Practice physicians in the Greater Omaha-Lincoln area just before the launch. The card was intended to introduce the name of MedLetters and give an overview of what MedLetters is. A second card has come out this week that focuses more on how the letters and website fit into clinical practice. These post cards will be followed up with a letter intended to describe the use and value of MedLetters for providers and ask for an opportunity to come and show them the website.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
MedLetters is Live!
MedLetters is live!
After months of writing, programming, and the steep learning-curve of starting a business for the first time, Medletters is live and it’s working! Right now we have seven providers doing beta testing for us in Omaha, Iowa, and Minnesota. They’ve sent us good ideas about how to improve and broaden the database, and occasionally pointed out a minor problem or two. The programmers at the Minnow Project in Lincoln are still busy putting finishing touches on some of the finer points (consequently, at times the letter-generator isn’t completely functional) and it’s been an amazingly smooth transition into use.
So now we hit the streets. This is what we’re telling people:
What is MedLetters?
A Tool
A tool for physicians enabling them to generate individualized patient letters quickly and easily.
Software
Software which makes it easy for medical providers to communicate better with their patients.
A Solution
A solution for doctors who want to explain to patients the specific topics of a visit: the condition, the medications, recommendations, what to watch out for.
An Online Letter Software
An online medical letter software for providers to quickly and easily produce an individualized patient letter at the end of a visit.
Letter-Generating Software
Online letter-generating software for doctors, enabling them to produce with a few clicks individualized letters for patients to take home with them.
Clinical Visit Take-home
Cloud-based medical letter software for doctors who want to give their patients an easily-produced thorough description of the topics discussed during a clinic visit.
Medical Descriptions in Plain English
A database of medical descriptions in plain English accessed through sophisticated web-based software which enables doctors to quickly generate, with a few clicks, letters for their patients that are individualized, informative, and specific to the condition, medications, and recommendations discussed in a visit.
Here’s how to use MedLetters
1. Go to medletters.com
2. Create an account
3. Start creating letters
We’re confident your patients will love our letters. We think you’ll be surprised how easy it is to use. A simple answer to a million questions. Try us!
More later….
After months of writing, programming, and the steep learning-curve of starting a business for the first time, Medletters is live and it’s working! Right now we have seven providers doing beta testing for us in Omaha, Iowa, and Minnesota. They’ve sent us good ideas about how to improve and broaden the database, and occasionally pointed out a minor problem or two. The programmers at the Minnow Project in Lincoln are still busy putting finishing touches on some of the finer points (consequently, at times the letter-generator isn’t completely functional) and it’s been an amazingly smooth transition into use.
So now we hit the streets. This is what we’re telling people:
What is MedLetters?
A Tool
A tool for physicians enabling them to generate individualized patient letters quickly and easily.
Software
Software which makes it easy for medical providers to communicate better with their patients.
A Solution
A solution for doctors who want to explain to patients the specific topics of a visit: the condition, the medications, recommendations, what to watch out for.
An Online Letter Software
An online medical letter software for providers to quickly and easily produce an individualized patient letter at the end of a visit.
Letter-Generating Software
Online letter-generating software for doctors, enabling them to produce with a few clicks individualized letters for patients to take home with them.
Clinical Visit Take-home
Cloud-based medical letter software for doctors who want to give their patients an easily-produced thorough description of the topics discussed during a clinic visit.
Medical Descriptions in Plain English
A database of medical descriptions in plain English accessed through sophisticated web-based software which enables doctors to quickly generate, with a few clicks, letters for their patients that are individualized, informative, and specific to the condition, medications, and recommendations discussed in a visit.
Here’s how to use MedLetters
1. Go to medletters.com
2. Create an account
3. Start creating letters
We’re confident your patients will love our letters. We think you’ll be surprised how easy it is to use. A simple answer to a million questions. Try us!
More later….
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Populating the Web Site
Medletters has been under construction for over six months now. It's hard to tell that from the website because all the links just take you to a page that says, "Coming Soon." But a lot has been happening behind the scenes, and that's going to change in the next week.
We've written and loaded into the database about 2,500 letters, 750 medication descriptions, hundreds of other insert-type paragraphs, sentences, and phrases. The software that is going to generate letters out of these pieces has also been a huge endeavor (more than we first imagined). Now we're putting all the pieces together. The whole idea is to make the process very easy from the user side which means it has to be pretty sophisticated behind the scenes.
If you've gone to our homepage you've probably clicked on the link that says, "Watch a Demo" and been taken to the "coming soon" page. That is about to come to an end as well. To give you an idea, here is some of the script for the video:
"Hello, and welcome to Medletters. I’m Dr. Morin. Medletters is a software service that allows medical providers to quickly and easily generate letters for their patients. These letters serve to remind and inform the patient and build rapport."
If you've been looking, waiting for more than, "coming soon," it won't be long now. Thanks for your interest!
We've written and loaded into the database about 2,500 letters, 750 medication descriptions, hundreds of other insert-type paragraphs, sentences, and phrases. The software that is going to generate letters out of these pieces has also been a huge endeavor (more than we first imagined). Now we're putting all the pieces together. The whole idea is to make the process very easy from the user side which means it has to be pretty sophisticated behind the scenes.
If you've gone to our homepage you've probably clicked on the link that says, "Watch a Demo" and been taken to the "coming soon" page. That is about to come to an end as well. To give you an idea, here is some of the script for the video:
"Hello, and welcome to Medletters. I’m Dr. Morin. Medletters is a software service that allows medical providers to quickly and easily generate letters for their patients. These letters serve to remind and inform the patient and build rapport."
If you've been looking, waiting for more than, "coming soon," it won't be long now. Thanks for your interest!
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