Communication Breakdown
The health-care industry is arguably one of the most advanced business sectors in the United States. Despite this, the number of medical error-related deaths continues to escalate and a complex health-care system still compromises patients’ quality of life. As a result, society is involved in an ongoing blame game with no conclusion in sight. But evidence points to functional health literacy, which the Council of Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association defines as “the ability to read and comprehend prescription bottles, appointment slips and the other essential related materials required to successfully function as a patient.” In addition, prescription fraud continues to threaten the credibility of the health-care system. Manufacturers and distributors of health-care forms can use these weaknesses in the system as opportunities to drive profitable margins for their businesses by introducing comprehensive forms to the market.
According to a report from the Institute of Medicine titled “Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion,” approximately 90 million American adults have difficulty interpreting and using health information. And, because patients are being required to take a more active role in making health decisions, society has only recently realized the consequences of poor health literacy. People with low functional health literacy are less likely to understand written and oral information from health-care providers and adhere to a medication or appointment schedule. Now is the perfect time for distributors and manufacturers to re-think this complex system and capitalize on it.
Those within the industry can begin to focus their attention on documents affected by the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Following the enactment of HIPAA a few years ago, health-care providers are now required to comply with a new set of national standards to protect patients’ privacy.
The Flesh Company, Parsons, Kan., noticed the absence of mimeographed patient sign-in sheets typically attached to clipboards in front of the receptionist window. The manufacturer tailored its forms to meet HIPPA regulations while considering the best interest of patients. On the first half of this two-part carbon interleaved unit set, there is an integrated label that is die-cut on each line of the sign-in sheet. “This allows patients’ names to be removed individually as they sign in so their privacy is protected,” explained Donna Grounds, vice president of sales. The part two carbon copy provides the doctor’s office with a complete listing of the patients who have been seen. “It is recommended to glue the form at both the top and bottom for extra security,” Grounds added.
Excessive paperwork can also cause confusion and
aggravation for patients. To simplify workflow and to meet the changing needs of its customers, Megaform Computer Products, Vandalia, Ohio manufactures megaforms that are 28 inches or longer as a unique alternative for distributors. In the early 90s, President Jim Browning noted the unnecessary amount of paperwork organizations used for different purposes and the confusion that ensued from too many forms. By designing a megaform, the amount could be significantly condensed.
Today, Megaform Computer Products has the only press in the United States that can print up to 300" before repeating an image. “We can run off several 81⁄2x11" forms, side by side, and join them into one form that perfs every 81⁄2" and folds down into a neat little 81⁄2x11" stack. This enables them to still fit into a standard sized box, while having all of the information printed on one form,” said Jenny Schidecker, sales. Megaform’s biggest customer, she said, is a distributor based in California, who came up with a 13-panel trauma flow sheet that’s 110" wide.
The Flesh Company has found success with chain-of-custody forms. Available in unit set and continuous styles, chain-of-custody forms are popular with labs, whether private or affiliated with a hospital or police department. Their capabilities include integrated labels, variable image bar coding, online numbering and camera verification of all numbering and bar codes (note, manufacturers can combine any number of these features for added security and accuracy on other health-care forms).
“Verification that the numbers and bar codes match is an integral part of the success of these forms,” said Grounds. “The vision verification camera is placed online. As the forms pass through the collator, the collator takes a picture of the numbering and scans the bar codes. If there is a mismatch or a duplicate, the collator is automatically shut down. The verification system will also create a disc that can be sent to the customer to verify the numbering and to ensure no duplicates exist.” In addition, integrated labels or label/form combinations can reduce errors because these labels contain computer-generated information, explained Dee Brown, sales manager for The Flesh Company.
Doctor Shopping
Although health literacy is a major issue in this market, another problem continues to stir controversy: prescription fraud. The Institute of Medicine reported, in any given week, four out of every five adults in the United States will use prescription medicines. These statistics include, but are not limited to, legitimate prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. Manufacturers and distributors can increase their revenue by devising more advanced security precautions on their forms to offer to the health-care market.
“In today’s market, prescription forms should be treated as any other negotiable document. There should be multiple layers of security incorporated into the forms. For instance, use security paper with a void pantograph, thermochromic ink and microprinting. Any one of these security features alone could be defeated, but with multiple layers of security, it becomes more difficult to forge a document,” stressed Brown.
Dispensing logs in hospitals and clinics for medications prescribed or used for a patient in the facility, should serve as a tracking device. “Integrated or form/label combinations with numbering and/or bar coding specific to the patient are ways not only to keep a control on the medication, but medication inventory, as well,” said Grounds.
Whether addressing patient literacy or prescription fraud, distributors must do their research to provide the best possible solution for end-users. “Selling to hospitals is no different than selling to any other industry,” stressed Grounds. “Distributors must find out their needs and issues and then find solutions. With the advent of hospital buying groups, it is difficult to just walk through the door of the purchasing department at a hospital and sell them something. It is necessary for distributors to do a little homework to find out if they are part of a buying group.” Once this is done, create a form that is just what the doctor ordered.