Health Experts Launch New Web Site to Educate Consumers on Medication Safety

Online Tools Help All Family Members Learn About Rx Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 15, 2008 - The Center for Improving Medication Management (The Center) today launched www.LearnAboutRxSafety.org a new Web site where consumers can learn how to use medications safely. Developed in conjunction with the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), the Web site is primarily intended as a resource for families and all individuals seeking information on medication safety. The Center will collaborate with consumer organizations, provider and payer organizations and other groups interested in promoting medication safety and adherence for consumers.

LearnAboutRxSafety.org includes information and resources to help protect families from the unintended consequences of improper medicine use, avoid medication errors, and improve adherence to medicine therapy. Presented to visitors as "Medicine Safety: A Tool Kit for Families," the site offers practical advice about:

How to avoid medication misuse;
Getting the facts about your family's medicines;
Keeping a family medical record;
Safe medicine use with children, older adults and during pregnancy; and
Questions to ask your health team.

According to data from the federal government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, patients in the United States made over 1.56 billion visits to physician offices in 2007 - 550 million of which generated at least one prescription. Meanwhile, the Institute of Medicine estimates there are at least 1.5 million preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) in the U.S. each year.

"As baby boomers age and life expectancy continues to lengthen, more and more Americans are caring for their children and parents," said Kate Berry, executive director of The Center and senior vice president for Surescripts-RxHub. "Medicines are often an integral part of managing various health ailments and medical conditions across generations. With LearnAboutRxSafety.org, our aim is to equip families and the organizations they trust with their care with the information, knowledge and skills needed to safely and effectively manage their medications."

NCPIE produced the online tool kit with an advisory panel featuring experts from the American Academy of Family Physicians, AARP, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, The Center, CVS Caremark, Humana Inc., Intel Corporation, the Medical Group Management Association, the National Consumers League, Surescripts-RxHub and Walgreen Co. A special feature of the Web site is licensed content from NCPIE's Medication Use Safety Training for Seniors™ (MUST for Seniors™) program, as a special resource for parents or other family caregivers involved in assisting older adult family members with their medication management.

About The Center for Improving Medication Management:
The Center for Improving Medication Management is committed to understanding how technology improves the way medications are prescribed and used safely and effectively by millions of patients every day. The Center was founded by the American Academy of Family Physicians, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Humana Inc., Intel Corporation, the Medical Group Management Association and Surescripts-RxHub. For more information, visit www.theCIMM.org.

About the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE):
Organized in 1982, The National Council on Patient Information (NCPIE) is a non-profit coalition of over 100 organizations committed to stimulating and improving communication between consumers and health care professionals about the safe and appropriate use of medicines. In addition to sponsoring "Talk About Prescriptions" Month (http://www.talkaboutrx.org), NCPIE hosts the "Be MedWise" campaign promoting wise use of over-the-counter medicines (http://www.bemedwise.org) and the Medication Use Safety Training for Seniors program (http://www.mustforseniors.org).

Press Contacts:
Rob Cronin
For The Center for Improving Medication Management
917-414-5289
rob.cronin@SurescriptsRxHub.com

Ray Bullman
National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)
(301) 656-8565, ext. 314
bullman@ncpie.info