Customer Communications | First DataBank

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Implementation Services

AWP Settlement Update
Clifton Louie, RPh, DPA, to Join First DataBank as Executive Vice President
Webinar - Boosting Usability of CPOE (and eMAR) with Real Physician-Friendly Medication Ordering
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Selects First DataBank's OrderView to Simplify Discharge Prescriptions, Enhance Medication Reconciliation
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Selects the First DataBank Drug Database for a Prototype Project in its Major System Reengineering Initiative

Clinical Highlights

A weekly electronic publication designed to keep customers apprised of upcoming changes to individual clinical data elements, as well as specific clinical modules in the NDDF Plus and IDDF-Canada databases. Clinical Highlights is available in an Excel format that can serve as a guide that can aid customers to program for our announced changes and enhancements. The Clinical Highlights prospectively announces enhancements and/or changes a minimum of three weeks prior to moving into production. This publication is produced and sent out to customers every Friday.

Editorial Highlights

An electronic publication designed to keep customers apprised of changes to product information in the NDDF Plus database, including changes in pricing and NDC/UPC codes. This publication is produced on an as needed basis when there is relevant editorial information that is important to pass onto customers and is sent out either Friday or Monday.

Medicaid Highlights

An electronic publication designed to keep customers apprised of upcoming changes to the Medicaid Data File (MDF) and/or other major changes to CMS data elements in the NDDF Plus database (such as FUL and the rebate indicator flag). Medicaid Highlights is a guide that can aid customers in programming for announced changes to individual state programs.

Editorial Bulletin

An Editorial Bulletin announces changes to editorial policy or errors or changes in the content. The information that appears in an Editorial Bulletin also appears in the Clinical Highlights, but the Editorial Bulletin draws special attention to the issue. An Editorial Bulletin provides an overview of the change and instructions on how you can get more information. For example, First DataBank sends an Editorial Bulletin to alert you when the interpretation of a severity level changes so that some drugs will no longer receive that severity level and that you can contact Customer Service for more information. Anyone in your company who is a clinical expert or who needs to know when an editorial policy has changed or a content error has occurred should receive Editorial Bulletins.

The Editorial Bulletin communicates issues with the data that do not meet the criteria to trigger a technical bulletin, such as:

Changes to editorial policy that have no technical impact.
Changes to industry standards that have no technical impact.
Incorrect data, which may pose a risk to patient-safety.

The person in your organization who receives Editorial Bulletins is responsible to receive alerts about patient safety issues. This person will receive these alerts regardless of the bulletin type used to announce them.

Product Bulletin

A Product Bulletin announces product changes or enhancements that you need to know about but that don't require changes to your code if you have no interest in the change or enhancement. The Product Bulletin provides an overview of the enhancement as well as instructions on how you can receive the enhancement. For example, First DataBank sends a Product Bulletin to alert you that a new file is available and that you can contact Customer Service to request it. Anyone in your company who helps to determine how you implement First DataBank's products should receive Product Bulletins.

The Product Bulletin communicates product issues that do not meet the criteria to trigger a technical bulletin.

Technical Bulletin

A Technical Bulletin announces product changes or production cycle issues that have the potential to require changes to your code, depending on your system setup or information that is specific to a technical audience. The Technical Bulletin provides an overview of the issue as well as specifics about what changes you need to make. For example, First DataBank sends a Technical Bulletin to alert you when an error has required a new build and to give instructions on how to use the new build. Anyone in your company who needs to know when code changes are required should receive Technical Bulletins.

For example, the Technical Bulletin communicates issues such as:

Requiring a code change, resulting in a noticeably long load time, or causing noticeably large or small update sizes. If the issue that caused the problem is clinical in nature, this bulletin is also sent to clinical contacts.
New features that appear in your product regardless of whether you request them. This bulletin is also sent to product contacts.
Availability of a rebuild. If the issue that caused the problem is clinical in nature, this bulletin is also sent to clinical contacts.

Contact Customer Service at 800-633-3453 to receive these communications. You must be a First DataBank customer to receive these communications.