Dr. Devin Mikles
Choices Integrative Healthcare
As an integrative physician I have long been concerned with real and potential adverse drug events (ADEs) occurring with my patients. I absolutely have to check for possible interactions and side effects because it is such a common thing. Unreported ADEs probably number in the hundreds of thousands to millions annually.
SURVEYOR Health's Medication Risk Maps have especially been very helpful when I have a case where I don't know what is happening. The graphics are also useful for showing the patient why I think a particular drug is a problem and why I am recommending changes to their medication regimen. I use it all the time now, and I recommend the patient use it for themselves at home. It’s just something I can't do without anymore.
While this takes a little time, it is so critical to my patient's health that they and I believe it is well worth the effort. After having my nurse or medical assistant make sure that the correct meds are in the system, including herbs and vitamins and minerals supplements, we can then accurately subject the list to the SURVEYOR Health process. The result is far superior to the recommendations the formulary services send me on the drugs a patient is taking; those recommendations miss a lot of potential problems.
Typically we successfully bill the insurance company, including Medicare, for prolonged services (CPT codes 99354 – 99355) for the time spent counseling in the office for the use of meds, medical devices, diet and exercise, etc.
By using Medication Risk Maps and appropriate billing, I have been able to render a greater service to my patients. The small cost and time represents a great savings both economically and clinically compared to the impact of side effects on patient comfort, therapeutic success, and long-term costs of ADEs, impacts which can result in wrong treatment, extra hospitalizations, and poor outcomes.
Sincerely,
Devin A. Mikles, MD, MD(H), FACP
Medical Director
Choices Integrative Healthcare
Sedona, Arizona