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Responding to the Rofecoxib Withdrawal Crisis: A New Model for Notifying Patients at Risk and Their Health Care Providers
- Anil Jain, MD;
- Ashish Atreja, MD, MPH;
- C. Martin Harris, MD, MBA;
- Meghan Lehmann, PharmD;
- Jon Burns, BS; and
- James Young, MD
Abstract
Background: We decided to inform our patients of the withdrawal of rofecoxib, one of the largest drug withdrawals in United States history, and instruct them to contact their providers for guidance.
Objective: To identify and inform patients and providers affected by the rofecoxib withdrawal.
Design: Descriptive observational study.
Setting: Tertiary care center with an electronic medical record (EMR) system.
Patients: Patients with an active rofecoxib prescription within the EMR.
Intervention: Existing information technology and traditional communication resources were used to automate the identifying and notifying of patients and providers and to deactivate rofecoxib prescriptions in the EMR.
Measurements: Characteristics of patients receiving rofecoxib at our institution, details of their prescription and provider, number of EMR alerts, and medication discontinuations.
Results: The 11 699 patients with a rofecoxib prescription in our practice were sent notifications within 24 hours of the withdrawal.
Limitations: We did not directly measure the effect of our notification on patients or providers.
Conclusions: Information technology enabled our institution to rapidly identify and notify individual patients and their providers about an important drug withdrawal. The methods modeled a feasible way for health care organizations with EMRs to participate in notification processes that may be applicable in a variety of situations.
Article and Author Information
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Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: Consultancies: J. Young (Merck & Co., Inc.; AstraZeneca; Pfizer, Inc.); Grants received: J. Young (Merck & Co., Inc.; AstraZeneca; Pfizer, Inc.).
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Requests for Single Reprints: Anil Jain, MD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, A91, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195.
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Current Author Addresses: Drs. Jain and Atreja: Cleveland Clinic Foundation, A91, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195.
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Dr. Lehmann: Department of Pharmacy/Hb03, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195.
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Dr. Young: Cleveland Clinic Foundation, T13, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195.
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Mr. Burns: Cleveland Clinic Foundation, CL30, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195.
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Dr. Harris: Cleveland Clinic Foundation, H18, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195.
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