Pediatrician Maislyn Christie writes 25 to 50 prescriptions daily at her Cheverly, MD, practice. It used to be laborious: writing each child’s name, the drug, the dose, signing the form — often several times for each patient. But thanks to a CareFirst pilot program, Dr. Christie and other physicians have a powerful new tool: electronic prescription-writing.

CareFirst is providing free hand-held computers and software to a pilot group of primary care physicians. The system eliminates handwriting errors, checks drug interactions, then speeds orders to pharmacies — ready for customer pickup. “The handheld has really made a big difference,” says Dr. Christie. Another way CareFirst is making health care safer and more efficient.

CareFirst is partnering with the many physicians and other providers in our health networks to enhance the quality and safety of medical care.

Over the next three years, for example, we’re investing $3.6 million in Bridges to Excellence, a national program to increase physician efficiency and effectiveness.

Participating physicians receive bonuses for using advanced systems, like electronic medical records, to track patients’ health and make sure they get necessary services. Someone with diabetes receives regular reminders to see her physician. In turn, her doctor makes sure she’s taking medicines to head off strokes or heart attacks.

Also, CareFirst is investing more than $5 million over the next three years to fund hospital patient safety centers to reduce medical errors, to promote the advancement of health information technology and to improve intensive care unit services.

Why? Lapses in safety and efficiency put lives at risk and raise costs. Experts estimate that only 55 percent of insured patients get all the care that medical professionals agree is needed.

As a leader in effective health care delivery, we’re using our resources to improve medical care for everyone. Because at CareFirst, our mission is your health.

OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDERS:

• CareFirst Direct is our expanded on-line system to help physicians and other providers check members’ eligibility and the status of claims.
• iExchange helps our participating hospitals by generating on-line authorizations more efficiently.
• Our Quality Improvement program supports educational programs for providers about chronic disease, preventive care and office operations.