PeaceHealth Laboratories' New Patent Addresses a Leading Cause of Death: Prescription Drug Abuse
PtProtect pain medication management program receives federal patent for ability to detect medication abuse or compliance prior to adverse events
SPRINGFIELD, Ore., May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PeaceHealth Laboratories today announced the national availability and receipt of a federal patent for PtProtect™ (Patient Protect), a pain medication monitoring program offering the industry's highest levels of accuracy to detect prescription pain medication and identify potential negative drug interactions before they occur. PtProtect directly addresses the safety and financial concerns of prescription pain medication abuse by using the most sensitive and definitive assays to detect medication and illicit drugs.
In the most recent review period January – April, 2012, PeaceHealth Laboratories found that 35 percent of PtProtect test results returned discrepant results outside a patient's known prescriptions. Because PtProtect identifies patients who are taking or potentially diverting prescribed pain medications, taking pain medications that are not prescribed to them, or using drugs of abuse it has the potential to significantly reduce accidental deaths. (1)
"PtProtect saves lives, saves practices and saves communities money," said Ran Whitehead, Chief Executive Officer of PeaceHealth Laboratories. "Now physicians may know, with confidence, what pain medications their patient is taking and prescribe accordingly to the highest levels of safety. This patent validates our rigorous science and practical application of this life-saving technology. It also enables providers to protect their practices from uncertain liabilities including malpractice and patient mortality."
In recognition of PtProtect's technology and capabilities, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. Patent No. 8,067,243 granting exclusive rights to PtProtect™.
About PtProtect
PtProtect is a patented testing program that detects up to 38 prescribed medications and illicit drugs. Medications are revealed at the industry's lowest thresholds for the most sensitive, comprehensive detection of opiates and opioids, thus reducing the possibility of adverse drug interactions. Simple and timely reporting allows doctors to quickly determine if test results are consistent or inconsistent with patient prescriptions.
PtProtect is available through PeaceHealth Laboratories and may be administered by physicians nationwide. For information about PtProtect, visit www.ptprotect.com or call 800-826-3616.
About PeaceHealth Laboratories
PeaceHealth Laboratories is a division of PeaceHealth, a not-for-profit health care system with a mission of promoting personal and community health since 1890. PeaceHealth Laboratories provides comprehensive laboratory services throughout the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington and Alaska), and specialty testing for clinicians and employers across the U.S. With 9 laboratories and 27 patient service centers in three states, PeaceHealth Laboratories is one of the largest laboratory systems in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more at www.peacehealthlabs.org
(1) Source: CNNMoney February 24, 2012
SOURCE PeaceHealth Laboratories
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