emsCharts
emsCharts News & Press
PRESS RELEASE - August 19, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPittsburgh, Pennsylvania - August 19, 2013 - emsCharts today
announced enhanced security options for electronic signature capture
in their ePCR software. The additional security was approved in July by the Ohio State Board
of Pharmacy as satisfying their requirement for "positive
identification" when an individual "prescribes, administers, or
dispenses a dangerous drug."
When the security features are in place for an EMS agency using
emsCharts, signatures on a patient record must be validated
electronically via security questions.
A crew member signing a chart will be confronted with a
series of randomly displayed questions that must be answered
correctly before the chart can be locked or processed further.
The questions are intended to be specific enough to an
individual that it is assumed that only that particular individual
will know the answer to the question(s).
The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy requires Emergency Medical Services
to document, using "positive identification" practices, anytime that
a dangerous drug transaction takes place, including but not limited
to "the receipt, use, administration, destruction, and wastage" of
the drug. On July 31, 2013, the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy approved emsCharts for use by
EMS agencies for the electronic capture of positive identification
signatures.
Additionally, emsCharts has created a "Wasted Medication" log
report, which is searchable by date.The report displays date/time, wasted medication with dose,
"wasted by", and witnesses.
"While the new security features specifically satisfy the Ohio State
Board of Pharmacy requirements, the thought is that any EMS agency
can take advantage of this enhancement," states Pete Goutmann,
President of emsCharts, Inc. "EMS agencies that handle controlled substances as part of
their formulary are accountable for the proper use and disposal of
those drugs.
Implementing a similar positive I.D. policy for electronic
signatures using emsCharts can ensure that appropriate actions are
taking place when they are documented as such."
The enhanced e-signature security features are available now
free-of-charge to emsCharts customers, requiring only some simple
configuration by the EMS agency.
About emsCharts
emsCharts (www.emscharts.com) provides pre-hospital care professionals with dynamic, state-of-the-art solutions for optimized patient health care, quality assurance and operational productivity. Developed in conjunction with and fully tested by medical and public safety professionals, emsCharts software products provide a total solution at a flat monthly fee.
ContactsPete Goutmann
Vice President
emsCharts, Inc.
600 Mifflin Road, Suite 102
Pittsburgh, PA 15207
866.647.8282 x 77090
goutmann@emscharts.com