Once the prescription is ready, it can either be dispensed on site at the medical group, sent electronically to a local pharmacy or printed out for the patient. Under San Jose's agreement with Lifeguard, the medical group serves as a pharmacy for Lifeguard patients. Physicians act as pharmacists, checking their own prescriptions and earning a dispensing fee from health plans just as a pharmacy would. Although some surveys have indicated that physicians are reluctant to adopt new technologies, Trager says his group is enthusiastic. Physicians find the system intuitive, catching on in a 20-minute session.
Patients are also enthusiastic.
They also like the idea of doing something safer. San Jose contracts with Allscripts, Inc. to provide the handheld devices. The arrangement doesn't cost Lifeguard anything, Ajlouny notes. San Jose Medical Group is treated like any other retail pharmacy for prescribing purposes, and Lifeguard contributed no start-up costs. Inc. All rights reserved.