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Rhode Island seeks to track H1N1 via Surescripts

10/26/2009

WARWICK, R.I. The smallest state in the country has a new way to track the spread of H1N1.

Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri announced Monday that the state would launch a system for tracking the pandemic flu using prescribing data from the state’s electronic prescribing system, under a partnership with Surescripts.

“Since 2003, Rhode Island has consistently led the way on e-prescribing, and we have been continually recognized as one of the top 10 states in the nation for our success in implementing this initiative,” Carcieri said in a statement. “I am proud of all that we have been able to accomplish through a very effective public-private partnership.”

Surescripts and pharmacies will provide epidemiologists at the Rhode Island Department of Health with weekly updates of de-identified prescription data from participating pharmacies, including CVS/pharmacy, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Stop & Shop to find where spikes in prescriptions of antiviral medications have occurred.

“Rhode Island is the first state in the nation to work with Surescripts to use prescription data in the aggregate for disease surveillance, specifically monitoring and tracking the use of antiviral data during this H1N1 pandemic,” director of health David Gifford said. “This provides another important tool for the state’s public health officials to look at trends related to the course, severity and treatment of the H1N1 pandemic.”

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