IT against adverse drug events

MINNEAPOLIS: VigiLanz Corporation, a health care software technology provider headquartered in Minneapolis and Chicago, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) to implement its flagship software solution to reduce adverse drug events (ADEs) affecting V.A. patients.

VigiLanz was selected to participate in an eighteen-month pilot program to demonstrate the effectiveness of its Dynamic PharmacoVigilance System, as part of the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Innovation Initiative aimed at developing break-through solutions to the department’s most complex problems.

“Numerous studies have documented increased costs, length-of-stay, and mortality and morbidity issues associated with preventable adverse drug events,” said David Goldsteen, CEO, VigiLanz. “The V.A. has been a leader in developing and executing visionary strategies to reduce these risks and improve patient care among veterans which is why VigiLanz was selected for this pilot project. VigiLanz is committed to deploying our leading real-time software solutions with the V.A. to deliver better patient experiences.”

The pilot project will allow VigiLanz to implement its pharmacy solution in Chicago within the Edward Hines, Jr. V.A. Medical Center, a 471-bed facility serving veterans in Chicago and northern Illinois. The system, as per the press release, will automatically track events to assess whether corrective actions have been taken when required, or if not, will alert clinicians of specific patient scenarios within an appropriate timeframe determined by a rules engine inherent to the system’s core software technology.

“Adverse drug events are a big problem in health care today,” said Goldsteen. “The cost to American health care measures in the billions. V.A. is a thought leader and we are excited to join their team to help it deliver 21st century care to veterans and their families.”