1. What is the Health Care Notification Network (HCNN)?
2. What problem is the HCNN trying to solve?
3. Why should I register for the HCNN?
4. Do doctors want the HCNN service?
5. Who governs/controls the HCNN?
6. Why are liability carriers supporting the HCNN and asking doctors to register?
7. What happens after I join the HCNN?
8. What happens if I don't join the HCNN?
9. Is there a charge for the HCNN?
10. Is there advertising on the HCNN?
11. How is the HCNN funded?
12. Will the HCNN be used to send me any messages other than FDA-required patient safety alerts?
13. How do I know my email address won’t be sold or provided to 3rd parties?
14. What happens if I don’t open my email alerts from the HCNN?
15. How many alerts will I receive from the HCNN?
16. How do I enroll in the HCNN?
17. How do I dis-enroll from the HCNN?
18. What is the role of the FDA in the HCNN?
19. Which pharmaceutical companies will send alerts via the HCNN?
20. When will I begin to receive the patient safety alerts via the HCNN instead of receiving these alerts via the mail?
21. What happens if I change my email address?
22. Will I receive spam (junk email) from the HCNN?
23. Exactly who will be allowed to send an alert via this network? Will the government use it too?
24. Are the alerts going to be specific to me? Or is this just a general service that will send me alerts on all medications, even those that I would never prescribe?
25. Do I incur any additional liability by using the HCNN?
26. Why do you need my staff emails? Will they get alerts also?
27. Why do you need my fax number? Will it also be used for alerts?
28. Can I use this system to notify my patients?
29. Will the HCNN be available from my blackberry/mobile device?
30. Who sits on the board of the iHealth Alliance? Who controls it?
31. Does my medical society support the HCNN?
32. What happens if I don’t receive or I don’t open the email that contains an alert notification?
The HCNN is the new online service that delivers important patient safety alerts that are product-related and mandated by the FDA, to physicians and other healthcare professionals via email. Currently, these alerts (also known as "Dear Doctor letters") are sent to physicians on paper via traditional U.S. mail - a slow, error-prone process. The HCNN may also be used to notify physicians in the event of national public health emergencies or bio-terror events.
The HCNN is designed to improve the speed and efficacy of the delivery of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated patient safety alerts to physicians and other healthcare providers. Under the current system, patient safety alerts sent out via US mail can be significantly delayed, and in some cases, may not even reach the intended recipient. Today, safety alert letters arrive in the mail at physician practices along with large volumes of marketing materials, further diluting the efficacy of the alerts and decreasing the likelihood that a physician will see an important patient safety alert. Since the HCNN uses a dedicated online network as the alert notification vehicle, physicians and other healthcare providers can have confidence that they will receive recall alerts in a fast and effective manner, before their patients learn about them in the press.
The HCNN is good for providers and for patients because it improves the speed and efficacy of patient safety alert delivery. U.S. liability carriers, medical societies, health plans, government officials and other healthcare leaders are asking all physicians to register for HCNN because it improves patient safety, reduces physician liability, and ensures the fast and convenient delivery of patient safety alerts. The HCNN also stores and files alerts and can send them automatically to other members of the practice staff. HCNN benefits include:
Yes. Recent surveys of practicing physicians revealed that well over 90% of physicians want patient safety alerts sent immediately online instead of on paper via U.S. mail, and well over half wish to have a copy of the alerts also sent to office staff.
The not-for-profit iHealth Alliance governs and controls the HCNN, ensuring physician privacy and data security, and guaranteeing that the network is used ONLY for patient-safety related alerts. As medicine moves online, the mission of the iHealth Alliance is the protection of patient and physician safety and privacy. The iHealth Alliance Board is composed of leaders from Medical Liability Carriers, Medical Societies, Patient Advocacy Groups, Practicing Physicians and a liaison representative from the FDA.
The majority of U.S. liability carriers proactively supports the HCNN and recommends that their insured physicians enroll immediately because timely and accurate delivery of patient safety alerts decreases physician liability and improves patient safety.
Once a physician enrolls in the HCNN, and confirms their email address, their product-related patient safety alerts are delivered to them online via the HCNN instead of via the U.S. mail. When a new safety alert is generated, a simple notice is delivered to the physician's designated email address with a link to the new HCNN alert. The alert can be easily saved, forwarded to other staff members/patients or discarded. The net result is more rapid delivery of alerts, resulting in improved patient safety, reduced liability and less paper sent to the office or home.
Physicians who do not enroll in the HCNN will continue receiving patient safety alerts on paper via U.S. mail and will receive no benefit from the HCNN. Relying upon traditional paper and U.S. mail to learn of new patient safety alerts will mean ongoing delays in receiving these alerts and may create increased liability exposure for their medical practice.
The HCNN is free for physicians and other health care providers who wish to receive alerts electronically.
There is no advertising on the HCNN.
Funding for the HCNN comes from the healthcare manufacturers who currently pay for these same FDA alerts to be sent on paper via US Mail.
High importance emergency public health warnings or bio-terror alerts may also be sent via the HCNN. Any use of the HCNN aside from the delivery of product-related and FDA-mandated patient safety alerts is controlled by the not-for-profit iHealth Alliance.
The not-for-profit iHealth Alliance governs and controls the HCNN and guarantees that physician email addresses will not be shared, sold, or leased to any third parties.
Patient Safety alerts will continue to be sent via U.S. Mail to physicians who enroll in the HCNN but do not open the alert sent via the HCNN. Providing an email address you check regularly is necessary to maximize patient safety and practice benefit, and limit medical liability.
The HCNN will not increase or decrease the total number of alerts sent to any one physician. The HCNN will simply replace paper alerts with electronic ones thus making them more timely and efficient.
You may enroll in the HCNN by contacting your liability carrier or online at www.hcnn.net.
To close your account, simply log in at www.hcnn.net or contact HCNN Customer Service at info@HCNN.net or (866)-925-5155.
The FDA endorses the online delivery of patient safety alerts to physicians and provides liaison representation on the iHealth Alliance, the HCNN's not-for-profit governing board. In 2006, the FDA changed their official guidance to industry and stated that electronic delivery of patient safety alerts are preferable in most cases to paper-based delivery.
All pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers will be able to use the HCNN, and most major manufacturers have already committed to using the network. 2007 FDA guidance to manufacturers indicates that online alert systems such as the HCNN are preferred for delivering patient safety alerts to providers.
The HCNN will begin operation in Q2 of 2008. Enrolled physicians will begin receiving alerts via the HCNN, and will not receive alerts via U.S. mail while using the HCNN.
To change or update physician email addresses or other contact information, log on to the HCNN web site and update your information. For additional support, please contact HCNN Customer Service at info@HCNN.net or (866)-925-5155.
No. The HCNN is governed by the iHealth Alliance, which prohibits unauthorized use of the network, including advertising. Physician email addresses will not be sold or disclosed to third parties.
The HCNN will be used solely for FDA-mandated and product-related patient safety alerts. Any other use, such as use in a public health emergency, will require specific authorization from the not-for-profit iHealth Alliance.
The alerts sent via the HCNN will be targeted in the same manner as are the alerts currently sent in paper via U.S. mail. Most alerts are targeted to specific specialties and/or those who prescribe a particular medication.
Liability carriers promote and endorse the HCNN because rapid and effective delivery of patient safety alerts decreases medical liability exposure. Delays in receiving and responding to patient safety alerts may increase professional liability.
While physicians may choose for their practice staff to receive copies of alerts sent to physicians via the HCNN, this is not a requirement. Most physicians surveyed expressed interest in having copies of alerts sent to one or more staff members via the HCNN. You may add or remove staff emails from your HCNN account at any time by logging into the HCNN and accessing your Account.
The fax number associated with your account will only be used if there is a problem with your email account on file with the HCNN. In this case, your fax number may be used to advise you of an issue with your email address and ask that you update it.
Product safety alerts may be sent to your patients using secure, HIPAA compliant communication tools. HCNN alerts will also provide suggested patient-appropriate language regarding product-related safety alerts.
The HCNN alerts will be accessible from any Internet-capable device.
The HCNN is governed by a not-for-profit corporation, the iHealth Alliance, whose board is made up of representatives from medical societies, liability carriers and patient advocacy groups.
Medical societies, as well medical liability carriers, patient advocacy groups, as other healthcare industry groups are highly supportive of the HCNN because of its ability to improve patient safety and decrease physician liability.
If you don’t open the email to view the alert within 48 hours of receipt, the alert will be sent to you via U.S. mail.