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Medical providers using the free Electronic Medical Record platform were alerted with details of the recall and provided tools to identify patients currently taking drugs containing propoxyphene.

The FDA recommended removing propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet) on November 19, 2010 after new clinical research indicated that the painkiller can cause heart-related side effects.  An estimated 10 million patients in the US are currently prescribed the common pain medication.  Practice Fusion issued warnings to its national community of medical providers on the same day of the recall through its web-based Electronic Medical Record ( EMR ) system.  Practices were given instructions for running a report of patients taking propoxyphene to aid in treatment alternative outreach.

"Real-time communication is the key to keeping patients safe," said Robert Rowley, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Practice Fusion and also a practicing family physician.  "By being web-based and freely available, Practice Fusion can quickly deploy tools that clinicians need for raising awareness and identifying patients at risk.  This kind of life-saving technology is available to any medical practice across the country for free."

As Practice Fusion did with H1N1 last October and whooping cough in September, the free Electronic Medical Record ( EMR ) platform has provided insight to help guide its medical community.  Medical offices using Practice Fusion's EMR can quickly identify their patients who are on propoxyphene through the system and contact patients to discuss alternatives.

Key Facts:

• The FDA recommended removing propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet)on November 19, 2010 after new clinical research indicated that the painkiller can cause heart-related side effects.
• The drug is a widely used opioid analgesic.  Since 2005, almost 120 million patients in the US have been prescribed Darvocet alone, which combines propoxyphene with common painkiller acetaminophen.  The drug was originally approved in 1957.
• Practice Fusion issued an alert to its community of 50,000 users on November 19, 2010 with instructions for running a report to identify patients taking propoxyphene.
• Physicians are recommended to cease prescribing propoxyphene immediately and to consult with patients currently taking the medication about alternative medications.
• A sample of the report and more information about the recall can be found at EHRbloggers.com.

Practice Fusion can provide insight into the propoxyphene recall as seen across its national community of small and mid-sized primary care practices using EMR.  Experts are also on hand to discuss the role of EMR technology in managing national drug recalls and in speeding analysis of adverse drug reactions.

Source: Practice Fusion

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