FEATURE
full potential. To get the best
out of HIT, we need to reward
its best and highest uses. Put
another way, if we reward the
wrong thing, we shouldn’t expect
HIT to produce the things we
want and value. If our payment
system encourages upcoding,
HIT has the capacity to facilitate
that. If the payment system
rewards volume, not quality, then
the quality advantages of HIT
will go unappreciated, and its
negative effects on throughput
will be resented. If the health
system rewards improving patient
outcomes and efficiency, then HIT
can provide invaluable assistance
in achieving these goals.
You have often spoken
about your hope and vision
that clinicians would one
day be “delighted” to use
more user friendly devices, such
as iPads and iPhones. This is an
ongoing process, comparable to the
maturation of the PC itself from a
clunky, large desktop machine to
the light and usable devices and
software that we now enjoy.
I am also confident that a
new generation of young health
professionals will find the
electronic world much easier to
navigate than my generation has. ●
their electronic medical
records. Are we there yet?
We are not there yet, but we are
making progress. Surveys already
show that the great majority of
physicians see the value of current
electronic medical records, even
though they wish they were easier
to use. Under pressure from
users, vendors will improve the
usability of records over time and
will increasingly adapt them to
T:7”
POMALYST REMS Program
Because of the risk of embryo-fetal toxicity,
POMALYST is only available through a restricted
program called POMALYST REMS [see Warnings
and Precautions (5.2)].
• Patients must sign a Patient-Prescriber
agreement form and comply with the
requirements to receive POMALYST. In
particular, females of reproductive potential
must comply with the pregnancy testing,
contraception requirements, and participate in
monthly telephone surveys. Males must comply
with the contraception requirements [see Use in
Specific Populations (8.6)].
• POMALYST is available only from pharmacies
that are certified in POMALYST REMS. Provide
patients with the telephone number and Web
site for information on how to obtain the
product.
Venous Thromboembolism
Inform patients of the potential risk of developing
venous thromboembolic events and discuss the
need for appropriate prophylactic treatment [see
Venous Thromboembolism (5.3)].
Hematologic Toxicities
Inform patients on the risks of developing
neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia and
the need to report signs and symptoms associated
with these events to their healthcare provider for
further evaluation [see Hematologic Toxicities
(5.4)].
Hypersensitivity
Inform patients of the potential for a severe
hypersensitivity reaction to POMALYST if they
have had such a reaction in the past to either
THALOMID® or REVLIMID® [see Hypersensitivity
Reaction Print-only content
(5.5)].
Dizziness and Confusional State
Inform patients of the potential risk of dizziness and
confusional state with the drug, to avoid situations
where dizziness or confusional state may be a
problem, and not to take other medications that
may cause dizziness or confusional state without
adequate medical advice [see Dizziness and
Confusional State (5.6)].
Neuropathy
Inform patients of the risk of neuropathy and to
report the signs and symptoms associated with
these events to their healthcare provider for further
evaluation [see Neuropathy (5.7)].
Second Primary Malignancies
Inform the patient that the potential risk of
developing acute myelogenous leukemia during
treatment with POMALYST is unknown [see Risk of
Second Primary Malignancies (5.8)].
Tumor Lysis Syndrome
Inform patients of the potential risk of tumor lysis
syndrome and to report any signs and symptoms
associated with this event to their healthcare
provider for evaluation [see Warning and
Precautions (5.9)].
Dosing Instructions
Inform patients on how to take POMALYST [see
Dosage and Administration (2.1)]
• POMALYST should be taken once daily at about
the same time each day.
• POMALYST should be taken without food (at
least 2 hours before or 2 hours after a meal).
• The capsules should not be opened, broken, or
chewed. POMALYST should be swallowed whole
with water.
• Instruct patients that if they miss a dose of
POMALYST, they may still take it up to 12 hours
after the time they would normally take it. If
more than 12 hours have elapsed, they should
be instructed to skip the dose for that day. The
next day, they should take POMALYST at the
usual time. Warn patients not to take 2 doses to
make up for the one that they missed.
Other Informa ѥ