The iconic Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR®) found in every physician's office, clinic and hospital is merging with the Health Care Notification Network (HCNN), the only network that delivers FDA-required drug Alerts to physicians and other prescribers online. The combination, which will operate as the newly formed PDR Network, creates a unique end-to-end solution fulfilling manufacturers' need to deliver FDA-approved product safety information to prescribers, and also prescribers' need-to-know this information on a reference and real-time basis. FDA-approved drug labeling, product-safety Alerts, recalls, and information for prescribers on the new FDA-required REMS programs will be delivered through the PDR Network.
The PDR is distributed to all practicing U.S. physicians and contains the FDA-approved information for commonly prescribed drugs. It is the most routinely used drug information source in the U.S., the primary means by which manufacturers fulfill their 'duty to warn' prescribers about drug details including safety issues, and the primary drug information source routinely cited in drug-related litigation. The HCNN is the only online network used to deliver real-time FDA-required product safety notices from manufacturers to prescribers, often including updates to the product information contained within the PDR. The PDR-HCNN combination provides a ubiquitous drug reference as well as real-time updates and Alerts, via the HCNN, PDR electronic channels, and select partners, to fulfill expanding FDA requirements and prescriber needs. The services are provided at no charge to U.S. physicians and other prescribers.
"The PDR-HCNN combination is a logical and powerful service that supports patient safety," said Nancy Dickey, MD, past-president of the American Medical Association (AMA) and chair of the not-for-profit iHealth Alliance board, which governs the HCNN. "Physicians, other prescribers, manufacturers, the FDA and, of course, patients all need streamlined and coordinated processes to ensure that product safety information is delivered in a timely and up-to-date fashion."
The PDR-HCNN combination benefits patients by ensuring physicians are alerted about FDA notifications and announcements in real time.
"Given the national focus on health care, PDR Network comes at an ideal time and helps to realize many of the important goals of health internet technology, including improved efficiency, lowered costs and enhanced patient safety," said Edward Langston, MD, former chairman of the AMA Board of Trustees and a member of the iHealth Alliance board.
In addition to fulfilling regulatory requirements, PDR Network helps address physician liability concerns. "To support patient safety and limit professional liability, all physicians need immediate access to accurate drug information," said David Troxel, MD, medical director for The Doctors Company, the largest medical malpractice carrier in the U.S. "The Doctors Company has been a strong supporter of the HCNN and is very pleased to see it expand to PDR Network."