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Initiative will reduce paper, liability risk
A new effort to improve patient safety offers benefits for physicians. You can cut down on the paper that fills your desk and potentially cut your liability risk by agreeing to receive product-related safety notices electronically. This is a project that has been in the making for three years; you can participate for free by taking two minutes to enroll.
The initiative is called the Health Care Notification Network (HCNN). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the AMA, liability carriers and others created HCNN to send you information about FDA-mandated product recalls and warnings in a more timely, efficient and effective manner – before you read about them in the newspapers.
Some key facts
Once you understand the benefits of HCNN, you can enroll by providing your e-mail address. It will not be sold or disclosed to any third parties. Others on your staff, such as your practice manager or head nurse, may also enroll to receive the FDA-mandated alerts.
Then you and your staff will begin receiving medication recalls, warnings and national public health emergency notifications via your e-mail inboxes. This process will allow for the organization and storage of notices for future reference. You can also forward messages to patients affected by any recall. Of course, HCNN alerts also can be received via mobile devices that access the Internet, such as a BlackBerry.
"Relying on paper-based U.S. mail and weeks of delay to deliver time-urgent patient safety alerts to doctors in 2008 is indefensible and unsafe," explained Nancy Dickey, M.D., former AMA president and chair of HCNN's governing board.
"After a few years of work with the FDA and many other partners, we are finally moving from the Paper Age into the Internet Age in terms of patient safety alerts. We encourage all U.S. physicians to take two minutes and enroll today. Physicians and their patients will realize immediate benefit," Dr. Dickey added.
If you choose not to participate, you'll continue receiving paper notices, often referred to as "Dear Doctor letters." However, recent surveys of practicing physicians revealed more than 90 percent of respondents prefer patient safety alerts sent immediately online rather than through the mail. Also, more than 50 percent were pleased to have other office staff receive alerts.
You may have already received a letter from your liability carrier about HCNN; tens of thousands were mailed to physicians, explaining details of the project. Medical Assurance, which ensures many Indiana physicians, sent letters spelling out key aspects of HCNN including:
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Enrollment is free.
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Notices will arrive days or weeks ahead of paper alerts.
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No spam messages or advertising will appear.
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Opting out can happen any time you desire.
In the future, officials may utilize HCNN to communicate highly important emergency public health warnings or bioterror alerts, since it offers the advantage of speedy transmittal. But the network will not increase or decrease the total number of alerts you receive. The HCNN will simply replace paper alerts with electronic ones.
If you fail to open e-mail from HCNN, you will receive a paper notice. Therefore, enrolling with an e-mail address you check regularly is key to maximizing the benefit of your involvement and limiting medical liability.
About HCNN's governance
HCNN is governed by a not-for-profit organization called iHealth Alliance. This entity ensures physician privacy and data security, and guarantees that the network is used ONLY for patient-safety-related alerts.
The iHealth Alliance Board is composed of leaders from medical liability carriers, medical societies, patient advocacy groups, practicing physicians and an FDA representative.
Funding for HCNN comes from the same health care manufacturers who currently pay for paper FDA alerts. That's why you'll find no advertising on the HCNN Web site; it is sustained by health product manufacturers.
Don't put off enrollment. Visit the HCNN Web site and read the FAQ (frequently asked questions) section at the bottom of the page. Then take two minutes to enter your information, reduce your paperwork – and maybe your liability risk.
Benefits of the Health Care Notification Network 
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Improved patient safety
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Reduced professional liability
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Immediate receipt of important clinical information
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Increased convenience for practices
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Ability to have patient safety alerts sent to other staff members
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Reduction in office paperwork and mail
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Ability to get more information about a specific patient safety alert
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