By Chris Hollis July 15, 2008
The Health Care Notification Network (HCNN), a service for electronically disseminating "dear doctor" letters, now has more than 150,000 physicians registered and expects to send its first communication to physicians next month.
The system started registering physicians in March. Medem, a health IT networking firm that operates the service, expects 300,000 physicians to sign up by the end of this year.
According to Medem CEO Ed Fotsch, HCNN helps pharmaceutical and device companies follow the FDA's guidance "Using Electronic Means to Distribute Certain Product Information." The guidance was issued in March 2006.
The system can be used by manufacturers to target "dear doctor" letters to the likely prescribers of the product, Fotsch said. Physicians who are not interested in certain recalls and safety updates would not be contacted.
Fotsch said the top 20 drug manufacturers are consulting with HCNN though not all companies have signed contracts to use the service. He added that the FDA can use the service as well, but manufacturers will be its main users.
The service works by a company notifying HCNN that a letter needs to be issued. After the company gets the letter reviewed by the FDA, it sends the letter to HCNN for distribution.