title: Responding to the rofecoxib withdrawal crisis: a new model for notifying patients at risk and their health care providers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We decided to inform our patients of the withdrawal of rofecoxib, one of the largest drug withdrawals in United States history, and instruct them to contact their providers for guidance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify and inform patients and providers affected by the rofecoxib withdrawal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care center with an electronic medical record (EMR) system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with an active rofecoxib prescription within the EMR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Existing information technology and traditional communication resources were used to automate the identifying and notifying of patients and providers and to deactivate rofecoxib prescriptions in the EMR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Characteristics of patients receiving rofecoxib at our institution, details of their prescription and provider, number of EMR alerts, and medication discontinuations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 11,699 patients with a rofecoxib prescription in our practice were sent notifications within 24 hours of the withdrawal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not directly measure the effect of our notification on patients or providers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information technology enabled our institution to rapidly identify and notify individual patients and their providers about an important drug withdrawal. The methods modeled a feasible way for health care organizations with EMRs to participate in notification processes that may be applicable in a variety of situations.
authors.affiliation: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atreja
authors.forename: C Martin
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D007783:Lactones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008875:Middle Aged; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007783:Lactones; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib