New network offers drug alerts instantly

The "Dear Doctor" safety alert letters physicians receive in the mail are being replaced by a new online service - for those who sign up.

Health Care Notification Network (HCNN) is a free service supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), medical societies and other organizations to speed delivery of product-related patient safety alerts, medical recalls and warnings. Now, instead of taking days or weeks to reach physicians’ mailboxes, the alerts can arrive via a secure, dedicated online network.

Physicians will continue to receive the print copies if they don’t sign up for HCNN. And when those who do sign up fail to open an e-mail alert within 48 hours, a paper copy will be sent in the mail.

No advertising materials will be transmitted through the network, which also will be used for emergent public health notices. In addition, the notices will be specialty specific; not all FDA-related product notices will be transmitted.

The nonprofit iHealth Alliance launched the network on March 25. HCNN is operated by Medem Inc.

For more information or to sign up for the program, visit www.hcnn.net.