Medication Management Systems - Setting the Standard

Patients in Canada can now access pharmacists for medication management,
guided by innovative electronic therapeutic record

Medication Management Systems partnership includes government-sponsored program that reimburses pharmacists for care.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (April 27, 2009)—A new U.S./Canadian cross-border partnership will expand access for patients who turn to pharmacists for medication therapy management services. Minneapolis-based Medication Management Systems, Inc. (MMS) has partnered with Medication Management Canada, Inc. (MMC) to adapt MMS’s groundbreaking electronic therapeutic record, the Assurance System™, for the Canadian health care market.

"Our common goal is to improve patient care by rapidly expanding medication therapy management services delivered by pharmacists across Canada," said Linda Strand, PharmD, PhD, DSc (Hon), co-founder and vice president of professional services for MMS. She added, "MMS’s Assurance System™ provides pharmacists a clinical decision support system and electronic therapeutic record to promote common practice standards, document therapeutic outcomes, and improve patient care — the infrastructure pharmacists have needed."

"Pharmacy practice in Canada is becoming more integrated with the patient’s care team, requiring a significant change from the current practice to include new methods and tools," explained Sunny Loo, executive director of MMC. "The benefits of the Assurance System™, as an integral part of this evolving pharmaceutical care role, became apparent and our partnership with MMS puts us in the ideal position to support Canadian pharmacists in meeting this challenge."

Sustainable Program to Expand the Role of Pharmacists
The more than 31,000 licensed pharmacists across Canada are dealing with rising health care costs and provider shortages which are increasing the demand for them to provide clinical services to patients. In response, Alberta’s Health and Wellness office, the provincial government Ministry of Health, provided funding for a demonstration project this year to expand the tools and resources available to pharmacists on the health care team, adding value for patients and developing a viable reimbursement model for pharmacists at the same time. The Assurance System™ was chosen by participating pharmacists as the ideal data tool to support the project and document medication management.

"Pharmacists are able to contribute to the care of the patient in unique, meaningful ways, including understanding the patient’s medication experience, identifying, resolving and preventing drug therapy problems, and generating new knowledge about the effectiveness and safety of medications. With the Assurance System™, pharmacists are able to be of significant help to patients and physicians as well as other health care providers," said Dr. Strand.

The Assurance System™ is the bridge, allowing the pharmacist to do the following:

Track patient encounters and outcomes
Offer up-to-date best practices guides in medication use, effectiveness, safety and compliance
Link the network of pharmacists and care providers
Provide robust data analysis
Report patient outcomes
Create an electronic therapeutic record of all medications used by patients
Facilitate electronic claims submission

Plans to expand beyond Alberta are already underway. MMC is working on pharmacy practice change initiatives in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. "Approximately 50 percent of people in Canada are taking some type of prescription medication at a given time, so the need for this service is very large. There is no question that as the practice of pharmacy changes, the tools and resources need to change too, and with the Assurance System™ we are well positioned to meet those needs," said Loo.

Medication Management Systems, Inc. (MMS) is a leader in designing, delivering and implementing successful, standards-driven medication therapy management (MTM) programs. MMS employs a proven patient-centered pharmaceutical care approach supported by the Assurance System™ to improve medication efficacy, safety, and adherence for patients with complex drug therapies. www.medsmanagement.com

Medication Management Canada, Inc. (MMC) is a leader in providing innovative practice tools and systems that supports pharmacists in practice change. An expert in pharmaceutical care, MMC is committed to supporting pharmacists with the right technologies and the best practice models in their effort to improve their patient’s health outcome. www.medicationmanagement.ca



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Contact us Meet our team Read the news and headlines See the warfarin dosing guide	Patients in Canada can now access pharmacists for medication management, guided by innovative electronic therapeutic record Medication Management Systems partnership includes government-sponsored program that reimburses pharmacists for care. MINNEAPOLIS, MN (April 27, 2009)—A new U.S./Canadian cross-border partnership will expand access for patients who turn to pharmacists for medication therapy management services. Minneapolis-based Medication Management Systems, Inc. (MMS) has partnered with Medication Management Canada, Inc. (MMC) to adapt MMS’s groundbreaking electronic therapeutic record, the Assurance System™, for the Canadian health care market. "Our common goal is to improve patient care by rapidly expanding medication therapy management services delivered by pharmacists across Canada," said Linda Strand, PharmD, PhD, DSc (Hon), co-founder and vice president of professional services for MMS. She added, "MMS’s Assurance System™ provides pharmacists a clinical decision support system and electronic therapeutic record to promote common practice standards, document therapeutic outcomes, and improve patient care — the infrastructure pharmacists have needed." "Pharmacy practice in Canada is becoming more integrated with the patient’s care team, requiring a significant change from the current practice to include new methods and tools," explained Sunny Loo, executive director of MMC. "The benefits of the Assurance System™, as an integral part of this evolving pharmaceutical care role, became apparent and our partnership with MMS puts us in the ideal position to support Canadian pharmacists in meeting this challenge." Sustainable Program to Expand the Role of Pharmacists The more than 31,000 licensed pharmacists across Canada are dealing with rising health care costs and provider shortages which are increasing the demand for them to provide clinical services to patients. In response, Alberta’s Health and Wellness office, the provincial government Ministry of Health, provided funding for a demonstration project this year to expand the tools and resources available to pharmacists on the health care team, adding value for patients and developing a viable reimbursement model for pharmacists at the same time. The Assurance System™ was chosen by participating pharmacists as the ideal data tool to support the project and document medication management. "Pharmacists are able to contribute to the care of the patient in unique, meaningful ways, including understanding the patient’s medication experience, identifying, resolving and preventing drug therapy problems, and generating new knowledge about the effectiveness and safety of medications. With the Assurance System™, pharmacists are able to be of significant help to patients and physicians as well as other health care providers," said Dr. Strand. The Assurance System™ is the bridge, allowing the pharmacist to do the following: Track patient encounters and outcomes Offer up-to-date best practices guides in medication use, effectiveness, safety and compliance Link the network of pharmacists and care providers Provide robust data analysis Report patient outcomes Create an electronic therapeutic record of all medications used by patients Facilitate electronic claims submission Plans to expand beyond Alberta are already underway. MMC is working on pharmacy practice change initiatives in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. "Approximately 50 percent of people in Canada are taking some type of prescription medication at a given time, so the need for this service is very large. There is no question that as the practice of pharmacy changes, the tools and resources need to change too, and with the Assurance System™ we are well positioned to meet those needs," said Loo. Medication Management Systems, Inc. (MMS) is a leader in designing, delivering and implementing successful, standards-driven medication therapy management (MTM) programs. MMS employs a proven patient-centered pharmaceutical care approach supported by the Assurance System™ to improve medication efficacy, safety, and adherence for patients with complex drug therapies. www.medsmanagement.com Medication Management Canada, Inc. (MMC) is a leader in providing innovative practice tools and systems that supports pharmacists in practice change. An expert in pharmaceutical care, MMC is committed to supporting pharmacists with the right technologies and the best practice models in their effort to improve their patient’s health outcome. www.medicationmanagement.ca
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