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tool_kit.html), with clinical informa- tion and an online course, “Heads Up to Clinicians, Addressing Concussion in Sports Among Kids and Teens.” To access the course, visit www.cdc.gov/ concussion/headsup/clinicians.html.


DPS tracks drug shoppers


Choosing malpractice coverage is not the time to confuse price with value.


At MedPro, we understand you’re always looking for a great deal.


But think about this: If you’re involved in a medmal claim, not only are your career and reputation at stake, but your personal assets and family’s future could be vulnerable – all the things you can’t put a price tag on.


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medpro.com/TX2 | 800-4MEDPRO Contact your local MedPro agent.


Medical Protective internal data 2002-2011. Product availability varies based upon business and regulatory approval and differs between companies. All products are underwritten by either The Medical Protective Company®


of the Berkshire Hathaway group of businesses. ©2012 The Medical Protective Company.®


or National Fire and Marine Insurance Company,® All Rights Reserved.


both members TX_Medicine_ValueOverPrice7'1875x4'8125.indd 1


Let TMA Online Classified Ads Work for You!


• Sell/Buy Medical Office Equipment and Furnishings • Sell/Buy a Medical Practice • Hire Medical Staff … and much more!


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40 TEXAS MEDICINE October 2012 started today. Scan to get 9/13/12 3:53 PM


Physicians can check patients’ controlled substance prescription history through the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS’) new secure online Prescription Access in Texas (PAT) database, www. texaspatx.com/Login.aspx. The program — designed to reduce patients’ prescription drug abuse — al- lows physicians and police officers to go online to see the controlled substances prescribed for a patient in the past year. DPS began testing PAT last August and, after pronouncing it successful, made it available to physicians, law en- forcement, midlevel practitioners, and medical board and nursing board inves- tigators. The database includes Schedule II–Schedule V drugs prescribed for the past 12 months only. Pharmacists must report prescription data within seven days of filling a prescription. “It is essential that doctors and phar- macists have quick access to the infor- mation they need to identify potential prescription drug abusers and traffick- ers before they fraudulently receive the drugs,” said DPS Director Steven Mc- Craw.


The legislature created the original


prescription drug monitoring program, now called the Texas Prescription Pro- gram, in 1982. Since then, authorized users have had to access this informa- tion through a paper process. For more information about the program, visit www.txdps.state.tx.us/RegulatorySer vices/prescription_program. n


Crystal Conde is an associate editor of Texas Medicine. You can reach her by telephone at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1385, or


(512) 370-1385;


by fax at (512) 370-1629; or by email at crystal. .conde@texmed.org.


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