What We’re Hearing and Seeing From the Front Lines in the EHR

What’s really happening in the EHR during the coronavirus pandemic?

What a difference a month makes.

In a short time, our lives have been upended. Personally, and professionally, it’s unlikely things will be the same. All of us in healthcare feel for the doctors, nurses and healthcare staff battling on the front-line in hospitals. Along with those healthcare professionals in the community responding to this new environment and continuing to care for their patient’s needs the best they can.

At the same time, we’re fortunate healthcare technology, digital pathways, and innovation offer our best hope for recovery. Those that have planned or implemented digital care and communication plans should be encouraged by their decisions. It is hard work many others will have to quickly implement. For those trying to figure it out, take a look at our Digital Health Start Up Guide.

Our point-of-care technology and expansive network of EHR partners across healthcare gives us a unique insight into the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of drugs and medical devices. Here are a few things we think you should know:

• While physician office visits are down, changes in prescribing behaviors and the rapid adoption of virtual healthcare have enabled patients to continue to have access to the treatments they need. The provider’s EHR is still utilized during a telehealth visit in the same ways it is used in physical visits.
• Physicians and patients have increased needs for drug information and services, and they need this information in a digital touchpoint.
• Engagement on the OptimizeRx Platform spiked at the start of social distancing and remains strong.
• Patient engagement, support, and care management usage has remained steady or increased depending on the population and therapeutic support use case.

Physicians are e-prescribing longer supplies and prescribing treatments without an in-person consultation.

A survey of 500 physicians conducted by healthcare agency AbelsonTaylor recently published in Medical Marketing and Media (MM&M) shows physicians are continuing to ensure patients receive the treatments they need during this outbreak.^[1]

40% of survey respondents said they have changed their prescribing habits and report writing longer supplies such as a 90-day prescription instead of 30-days.

They also report prescribing treatments without an in-person consultation. There’s been an unprecedented adoption of virtual visits. Three out of four survey respondents reported increased use of alternative methods to communicate with patients, with telemedicine services (106%) and video chat (159%) experiencing the biggest jumps in usage.

IQVIA is providing a report to the public monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on the pharmaceutical market. While it shows an overall decline in treatment initiations, specialists treating acute symptomatic diseases continue to initiate new prescription therapy.^[2]

Physicians need treatment protocol information for someone on a certain brand and diagnosed with COVID-19. They also need patient treatment support.

The same AbelsonTaylor survey mentioned earlier shows physicians are pretty clear about what they want; 42% of physicians reported needing treatment protocol information for patients on a certain product and diagnosed with COVID-19.

They also report the level of patient support materials they are receiving has sharply declined with the decrease in personal promotion representative visits. More than 80% said they did not receive any new materials during the past week.