News in brief - June 5, 2006

N.H. governor to sign bill curbing use of prescriber data - Doctors can test patient safety habits - Physicians top most-trusted list - Pa. hospital bans industry gifts

N.H. governor to sign bill curbing use of prescriber data

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has indicated he plans to sign a bill that bans drugmakers, data-mining firms and pharmaceutical benefit managers from selling or using prescriber data for marketing purposes.

The bill, which takes effect immediately upon signing, had strong support from the New Hampshire Medical Society, the state health department and attorney general's office. It faced tough opposition from drugmakers, chain drug stores and others.

In May, the AMA announced a new plan allowing doctors to opt out of having their information made available to drug reps or their supervisors. To enroll in the AMA's opt-out plan, visit the AMA Prescribing Data Information Center (www.ama-assn.org/go/prescribingdata).

Doctors can test patient safety habits

Physicians have a chance to see how well their practice stacks up on patient safety by completing a confidential survey constructed by a group of researchers funded by the Commonwealth Fund. The Physician Practice Patient Safety Assessment, based on available evidence and an expert advisory committee's insights, seeks to draw a connection between practice type and the prevalence of such safety practices as reliable diagnostics and medication reconciliation.

To take part, visit the PPPSA Web site (www4.mgma.com/survop/patientsafety2.htm).

Physicians top most-trusted list

Americans have confidence in health care professionals, according to a national survey by Harris Poll.

When asked how much they trusted members from 11 different professions to give them beneficial advice, 50% of U.S. adults surveyed said they completely trusted physicians to do this, putting physicians at the top of the list. Some 43% said they somewhat trusted physicians, 4% said "not at all" and 3% were not sure. Dentists were next on the list, with 47% of those surveyed saying they completely trusted dentists, and nurses ranked third, with 46% of those surveyed completely trusting them.

At the low end of the survey were stockbrokers, who were completely trusted by only 6% of those polled.

Pa. hospital bans industry gifts

Starting July 1, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania will forbid physicians and residents from accepting drugmaker gifts such as meals, notepads and pens during office hours. In addition, drug reps will have to make appointments to visit physicians. The hospital will continue to accept grants from drugmakers, but only if they are unrestricted and if department heads have authority over how to spend the money.

The move comes on the heels of a Jan. 25 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association calling on academic medical centers to take a more aggressive role in limiting industry gifts to physicians, arguing that they create potential conflicts of interest for doctors.