Correcting Compendia for Better Differentiation of Products
Industry
Drug Compendia
Problem
A brand manufacturer’s newer product version was being mistaken for a similar but not as easy-to-use precursor product, due to a lack of differentiation in the product’s name in the drug compendia. This caused prescribers to erroneously select the similar precursor product in the electronic health record when intending to select the client’s newer product. Not only was this disadvantageous to the client, but, most importantly, it was disadvantageous to patients who may have been educated on the client’s newer product only to be given a different and more difficult-to-use product.
PHSL Solutions
PHSL reviewed the listings of the two products in the drug compendia to understand why prescribers were selecting the incorrect product when attempting to prescribe the client’s newer product in the electronic health record. PHSL identified the issue regarding the product’s name in certain drug databases. At the client’s direction, PHSL then composed a letter to the affected drug compendia requesting a more accurate listing of the product’s name to better differentiate the precursor and newer products and alleviate any confusion at the point of prescribing.
Results
The request for a change in the product’s name to more precisely reflect both the precursor and newer products was accepted. This helps to facilitate accurate prescriber selection in the electronic health record, which will result in patients receiving the correct medication.