Can You Reduce Healthcare Cost?

Feb. 22, 2010 - PRLog -- Can You Reduce Health Care Cost?

Drug Side Effects? Your Choice!

Increased consumer awareness about potential drug side effects is becoming more and more a risk vs. benefit concern.  Pharmacists interested in educating their patient base have the option to let you know how to reduce those nasty side effects, as well as reduce healthcare cost.

Nutri-Link is a knowledgebase software consisting of researched nutritional depletion and interaction cautions and guidelines.  Some prescription medications create a burden on the body for nutritional supplementation, while others result in negative interactions with common foods, herbs, and supplements.

Over 160 million Americans  are taking herbal and nutritional supplements, 47.3% of Americans are taking at least one prescription medication .  More than 45% of people taking prescription drugs have found the prescriptions to interact with supplements , foods, or herbs that they are taking concurrently.  It has also been found that 15 of the top 20 prescription drugs in the US cause nutrient depletion , thus the need for information concerning potential interactions and depletions is extremely important.

Your pharmacist can help you with the most pressing interaction/depletion information, provided by Nutri-Link, without increasing their workload, through the same software they are currently using, or contacting Healthway Solutions at www.healthwaysolutions.com.

The Nutri-Link brand database of herbal and nutritional considerations is conveniently integrated into existing software.  This means there is nothing extra to install, and it requires no extra steps to provide this vital information to you.  Once Nutri-Link is activated, the standard method of processing a prescription will also produce a sheet of “considerations” specific to that drug or class of drugs.

Nutri-Link provides several major benefits that include the following:
1)   By reducing side effects, patients are likely to reduce requesting additional drugs to reduce symptoms of unwanted side effects.  By doing so, reducing healthcare cost.
2)   Customers are better informed as to the proper use of their medications and dietary supplements, thus increasing trust.
3)   Because side effects caused by nutritional deficiencies are reduced, through targeted supplementation, customers are more likely to continue taking their medication, as directed by their physician and pharmacist.
4)   The pharmacy has the opportunity to supply the patient with the appropriate nutritional and herbal supplements that are indicated, directly effecting incremental revenue.

Nutri-Link is provided to pharmacies for a service charge of approximately $35 per month.  It is updated with new information quarterly.  There is no hardware or software to buy and there are no additional fees.

An example of a Nutri-Link output follows:
   
   Drug name: Nexium
Nutritional Considerations

•   Folic Acid may be inhibited by taking this medication, causing a deficiency that could also create a deficiency of vitamin B12.  Folic Acid is required for the utilization of B12.  The fall in vitamin B12 status may be the result of a decrease in stomach acid required for vitamin B12 absorption from food while taking this medication.  Nutritional supplements containing these ingredients should be considered.
•   Highly acidic juices, such as cranberry juice, may aid in the absorption of vitamin B12-containing foods while taking this medication.
•   This medication may affect the proper absorption of beta-carotene and iron.  Consult your pharmacist regarding supplementation.
•   Avoid alcohol with this drug.

Herbal Considerations

•   This medication may interact with St. John’s Wort to increase the risk of photosensitivity.
•   Black Mustard, Cayenne, Devil’s Claw, Goldenseal, and Horseradish, all increase gastric acid and could therefore, theoretically interact with this medication.

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Nutri-Link is a database available to pharmacies integrated into the existing software to screen prescription medications for interaction with or depletion of essential nutrients.