Intel And American Pharmaceutical Association To Help Pharmacists Use The Internet

DALLAS, April 11, 2000 -- Intel Corporation and the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA), the national professional society of pharmacists, today announced they are developing an APhA-branded digital credential that will help pharmacists use the Internet to communicate with physicians and other health care professionals about prescriptions, drug therapies and other patient care matters. The announcement was made at HIMSS, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference.

Pharmacists currently rely on traditional forms of communication such as paper, phone and fax because of the need to control access to prescription medications and trusted patient information. The APhA digital credential will help enable pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to verify their identities online, permitting trusted communications and transactions via the Internet. Online pharmacy transactions are expected to benefit pharmacists, doctors and patients alike by reducing costs, lowering medication error rates and improving care.

"Accuracy, information sharing and privacy are all critical issues as pharmacists become more involved in the well-being of their patients," said John A. Gans, PharmD, executive vice president and chief executive officer of APhA. "By working with Intel to deliver digital credentials to pharmacists, the APhA is equipping the profession with one of the critical tools needed to provide health care via the Internet and to assist in maintaining the patient's privacy and confidentiality for which America's pharmacists are trusted."

"Making the Internet a more trusted place for pharmacy transactions is a key step in helping the $1.2 trillion dollar U.S. health care industry adapt to the Internet," said Steven McGeady, vice president of Intel's New Business Group. "We are enabling more trusted Internet health care transactions that can increase communications between patients and health care professionals, improve care, and lower overall costs."

Pharmacists are expected to play an important role in helping the health care industry and consumers adopt the Internet. According to Gallup, pharmacists are among the top two most trusted professionals for their perceived honesty and high ethical standards.** Warburg Dillon Read projects that automated transactions such as online prescriptions and lab order services will create a $10 billion services market segment over the next 5-10 years.***

About the Organizations
The American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA), the national professional society of pharmacists, was founded in 1852 and is the first established and largest professional association of pharmacists in the United States. The more than 50,000 members of APhA include practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, pharmacy students, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. The Association is a leader in providing professional information and education for pharmacists and an advocate for improved health of the American public through the provision of comprehensive pharmaceutical care. Visit APhA at www.aphanet.org.

The Intel® Internet Authentication Services (IAS) business develops and operates online authentication services for organizations and e-Health sites that offer branded e-Health credentials to their users. IAS enables remote credential retrieval when users need access from a different computer, and performs maintenance to keep credentials current. IAS does not collect, store or manage health care information, and Internet health sites do not have access to a credential user's security information.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.