Truven Health Analytics expands Micromedex CareNotes System

Truven Health Analytics, formerly the Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters, today announced the expansion of the Micromedex® CareNotes® System patient education solution to include a total of 600 educational handouts in Arabic.

The expanded CareNotes offering was launched at the 5th Medication Safety Conference 2012, focusing on Medication Safety in the Middle East. The conference takes place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 15-17 November 2012.

CareNotes enables over 5,500 healthcare institutions in 83 countries to educate patients on their specific condition before, during and after their hospital stay. Offered in up to 15 different languages, CareNotes are distributed as customizable handouts that act as easy-to-understand instructions covering common conditions, procedures and medications. The handouts include color depictions, 3D imaging, and are written without institutional jargon to allow understanding for all audiences.

"Providing clear and concise educational materials written in patients' and their families' native language increases the likelihood of compliance with follow up care instructions," said Jon Challenger, director, EMEA and South Asia at Truven Health Analytics. "As a result, medication errors are reduced and hospital readmissions decrease, which results in not only better patient safety, but improved outcomes as well. Spoken by over 280 million people, Arabic is one of the most widely understood languages in the world, making the launch of these CareNotes vital."

Hospitals in the Middle East use CareNotes to help them achieve Joint Commission International and other national and international accreditation. When integrated into the hospital's existing information systems, CareNotes provides an electronic audit trail to track which information has been provided to patients and their families; and when.

"Our staff relies on the comprehensive, evidence-based information of Micromedex," said Dr. Masood Farooki, supervisor, pharmacy services at Saudi Arabia-based Dhahran Health Center, Aramco. "Having that same consistent quality in our patient education materials, Arabic CareNotes, gives us confidence that we are delivering better care, and ensuring patient safety."

"Micromedex is a trusted and dependable source for healthcare institutions around the world," said Thomas Hegelund, Executive vice president for the clinician business of Truven Health Analytics. "The expansion of our Arabic language patient education offering is a step closer to ensuring patient safety and support extend around the globe."

Source: Truven Health Analytics