Onmark Launches Second Integrated Quality™ Program for Febrile Neutropenia Management

More than 210 Onmark members participated in the 2008 IQ Program for Febrile Neutropenia Management. This study generated over 850 completed surveys on physician treatment decisions around the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and breast cancer patients. Participating practices will receive their 2008 survey data benchmarked against national results and will have the opportunity to participate in clinical programs on how to interpret the findings.

The 2009 Febrile Neutropenia Management IQ Program builds upon the 2008 program’s effort to promote proper utilization of G-CSFs in accordance with national guidelines. The 2009 program will compare the use of CHOP and CHOP-R regimens given with or without a G-CSF in NHL patients.

Lynx Mobile data will identify new NHL patients that are receiving CHOP (cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin and prednisone/prednisolone) or CHOP-R regimens (CHOP combined with rituximab, used when the lymphoma is of B-cell origin), both with and without G-CSF. A brief Web-based survey will then be generated and completed by the physician for each patient. Results will be assessed by Onmark’s clinical team, benchmarked against national data and shared with the participating practices. All data collected are HIPAA compliant, aggregated to the national level and do not contain recognizable patient identifiers.

“Our first IQ Program focused on quality issues related to High Febrile Neutropenia (FN) Risk regimens and the appropriate need for growth factor support as prophylaxis,” states Kim Bergstrom, chief clinical officer for McKesson Specialty Care Solutions. “Our 2009 FN IQ Program will address quality issues related to moderate risk regimens and the importance of patient-specific risk factors. This area of quality focus is important in the community setting, where patients tend to have age-related and other co-morbidities that pre-dispose them to FN risk.”

Participating practices earn credit toward Lynx technology expenditures, including Lynx Mobile, Lynx TotalViewTM, Lynx Practice Manager® and Lynx EMR™ for each completed survey.

“We are committed to delivering innovative solutions that help our members succeed in the quality-driven healthcare environment,” says Mike Cunningham, Pharm.D. vice president and general manager of Onmark. “Together, Lynx Mobile and the IQ Program empower practices to develop measurable standards of care and optimize patient outcomes.”

About Onmark
Onmark, a McKesson Specialty Care Solutions company, is a leading national group purchasing organization (GPO) for community-based practices with more than 2,800 members representing over 4,600 physicians and in excess of $8 billion in annual drug purchases. Through strategic relationships with McKesson Corporation, pharmaceutical companies and industry experts, Onmark provides its members with access to a full portfolio of competitive contracts for pharmaceutical products and medical/surgical supplies, the most aggressive pricing available through McKesson, practice management resources, clinical tools and educational programs. For information about the products, services and programs available to Onmark members, visit www.onmarkservices.com.

About McKesson and McKesson Specialty Care Solutions
McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 18th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and healthcare information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care. McKesson is the longest-operating company in healthcare today, marking its 175th anniversary last year. Over the course of its history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. A business unit of McKesson Corporation, McKesson Specialty Care Solutions including Onmark delivers the services manufacturers, payors and providers need to ensure specialty pharmaceutical products, coordinated reimbursement and clinical services are available to patients with complex diseases. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com.