Tool Would Use Electronic Health Records to Reduce Inaccurate Prescriptions

There are several insurance carriers selling Medicare insurance plans, but only at Westergard Inc.

Medina, OH (prHWY.com) August 29, 2012 - Medina, Ohio - Developing a tool that uses data from electronic health records (EHRs) to alert doctors to illnesses and symptoms in their community may help reduce instances of unnecessary antibiotic prescribing among Ohio insurance providers, according to a study published this month in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers noticed patterns that suggested doctors may have been influenced against prescribing antibiotics at certain times by knowledge of flu outbreaks in the local area, as the percentage of antibiotic prescriptions dropped during these periods. As many people are aware, viruses also cause strains of the flu. Viruses cannot be eradicated by antibiotics. This trend was one of the factors behind researchers' conclusion that utilizing EHRs to keep doctors informed of infections in their community could help reduce the number of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.

Researchers studied EHRs documenting 28,000 patients who saw one of 69 doctors at NorthShore University Health System in Evanston, Illinois during flu season from 2006-2011. The doctors prescribed antibiotics for patients complaining of a fever and cough or cold symptoms about 45% of the time. The problem with this practice is that many respiratory infections are in actuality caused by viruses. Not only do antibiotics fail to provide benefits to these patients, they could even cause adverse outcomes. You can learn more about medications and their effects on various illnesses by speaking with an Ohio insurance agent.

It is important to have access to Ohio insurance anytime you feel ill, as self diagnosing and self medicating rarely works. Westergard Inc. works with top rated carriers including the following:

* Anthem BlueCross BlueShield
* Medical Mutual of Ohio
* Aetna
* United Health Care
* Golden Rule
* Kaiser
* Summacare

To help insurance shoppers determine which type of plan is most suitable to their budget and medical needs, Ohio insurance provides an instant quote engine on its website at www.WestergardInc.com. Begin by comparing free quotes, and from there you can speak in-depth with a licensed agent about your coverage options.

About Westergard Inc.com

There are several insurance carriers selling Medicare insurance plans, but only at Westergard Inc. will you get the personalized attention of a dedicated insurance agent who wants to help you find the right plan, fitting both your needs and budget. Westergard Inc. offers a variety of affordable options on Medicare Advantage and more, so you are guaranteed to find the coverage you desire.

Contact: mbackus@westergardinc.com
11 Public Square
Medina, OH 44256
Phone
330-247-1420
888-618-1501

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