Congress, Dentists, and the Opioid Crisis: Is Good, Good Enough?

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As the opioid epidemic continues and more policies have recently been implemented to curb this crisis, it seems that a crucial piece of the puzzle is missing: mandatory electronic prescribing. Like Devon Herrick mentions in his latest post, e-Prescribing is a commonsense solution for an issue that isn’t slowing down in the United States. Now is the time for Congress to step up and take advantage of solutions that are not only available, but approved and certified by the DEA. It’s clear that efforts to prevent and treat the opioid epidemic will fall short without additional investments and while states have implemented Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), they’re not mandatory and the ability to further capture data will undoubtedly be a pivotal cornerstone while facing this epidemic and for several reasons. With electronic prescribing:

1. A prescriber can track a patient’s medication history and make smarter treatment decisions, i.e. doctor shopping, recent prescriptions filled, and drug-to-drug and drug-to-allergy interactions.
2. There is no more need for paper prescriptions, therefore no more interpreting messy handwriting, no more altered dispense quantities, and no more stolen prescription pads.
3.  A significant decline will occur relative to the rate of fraud, resale and abuse of opioids because e-Prescribing secures all information exchanges from diversion.

Electronic prescribing has been utilized by doctors for a few years now, but the e-Prescribing of controlled substances is last to hop on the bandwagon. Until recently, federal regulations prohibited e-prescribing of controlled substances due to perceived risks, however electronic prescribing diminishes these elements of risk.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

Since New York mandated that all prescriptions must be sent electronically, dentists in particular, have seen a vast change in the number of opioid prescriptions: “In a study of dentists, within a few months after iSTOP was implemented in New York, opioid prescriptions fell by about half, from 31 percent of dental visits before iSTOP to 14 percent in the following three months. The quantity of pills per prescription also fell. The total numbers of opioid analgesics prescribed fell by three-quarters (78 percent).”

Whether it’s mandated or not, the numbers don’t lie – electronic prescribing proves to be the smarter and safer force as we battle opioid addiction. Congress, take note.

Sources: National Center for Policy Analysis; PLOS; National Safety Council; NPR; Congress

About DoseSpot DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

How Costly Are Prescription Pain Meds? CVS Can Tell You.

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If only money grew on trees—I’m sure the revolving door of CVS’ bank accounts hope so. In the hot seat once again, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on Thursday, June 30, that CVS is to pay $3.5 Million to resolve allegations that pharmacists have been filling forged prescriptions for controlled substances more than 500 times between 2011 and 2014. They failed to recognize the red flags for fake prescriptions and computer system bans on individuals receiving addictive drugs and did not alert the authorities. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time CVS has had to shell out a large sum of money as a result of negligence when filling controlled substances.

May 2015 – $22 Million; Florida

August 2015 – $450,000; Rhode Island

February 2016 – $8 Million; Maryland

June 2016 – $3.5 Million; Massachusetts

“DEA registrants like CVS have a corresponding responsibility to dispense controlled substances in accordance with the Controlled Substance Act.  When pharmacies fail to adhere to these responsibilities, it allows for the diversion of prescription pain medication, which contributes to the widespread abuse of opiates, is the gateway to heroin addiction, and is devastating our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.  

Furthermore, dentists were victimized once again. A woman identified as “P.R.” signed a dentist’s name on 56 of 59 oxycodone prescriptions that were filled at five CVS locations, even though CVS had banned her back in 2011. Creating a new patient profile with a different last name was her way in. Another forger had used a Massachusetts address for a dentist who had moved to Maine.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

The settlement money is going to the Department of Justice for now, but there are hopes that this money will be used toward prevention—specifically addressing the need for a way forged prescriptions will never even be able to happen. This is where e-prescribing comes into play. e-Prescribing eliminates paper prescriptions, thus eliminating the risk of forged prescriptions, altered quantities, and stolen prescription pads.

Contact us today to learn how seamless the e-Prescribing transition can be with DoseSpot on your side and let’s combat this opioid epidemic together.

Sources: Boston Globe; U.S. Attorney’s Office, RI; U.S. Attorney’s Office, MA; U.S. Attorney’s Office, MD; U.S. Attorney’s Office, FL

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

It’s a Revolution! Trending with Teledentistry

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Independence Day is right around the corner and while the holiday serves as the best BBQ day of the year and the turning point of the American Revolution, DoseSpot is looking at another type of revolution: teledentistry. Some may have heard of it, read about it, maybe even adopted it, but what is it exactly? Simply put, teledentristy is an expansion of the traditional dental practice, where patients can have a virtual visit vs. a physical visit to exchange clinical information and images with their dentist. Of course face-to-face visits will never expire in the dental industry (it’s a bit difficult to receive a cleaning through a smartphone), but teledentistry also allows hygienists and dental assistants to perform procedures across the country while being supervised by a virtual dentist. It seems like a win-win.

In this digital age, everyone wants a faster means of communicating with one another. Taking the time out of work or driving to a dentist’s office for a quick appointment? No, thank you. It’s not only time spent, but more money spent as well. Teledentistry is a sophisticated means to provide affordable preventative care to the public, which in turn helps serve the low-income population and takes an easier hit on the country’s bottom line. Prevent vs. treat is a mantra that should be in everyone’s mind nowadays, especially in this ever-evolving and costly healthcare landscape. It costs a lot less to prevent a problem than to pay for a procedure down the line because of patient neglect or lack of financial means.

Some may argue that true dentistry is a direct encounter between a dentist and patient and they are absolutely right. Teledentistry is not meant to replace the dental chair, but simply serve as an extension. It holds enormous promise and will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of this tele-revolution. Stay tuned!

Sources: Workforce; Wall Street Journal

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

The Opioid Epidemic—Are Dentists the Black Sheep?

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Once again, the dental industry is in the hot seat regarding their perceived contribution to the opioid epidemic that the United States is currently facing. As part of their “Hooked” series, NBC News recently reported on this deadly triangle: the relationship between dentists, drugs, and dependence and how dentists are at the forefront of this crisis, even citing that they’re taking the easy way out when treating patients.

“We see it across medical and dental practices that physicians and dentists are giving patients extra medication just in case to avoid seeing the patient again or writing for refills. This is an obvious problem that leaves a lot of left over medication and patients hold on to it.” -Dr. Brian Bateman, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoenocomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

The article highlights a young woman’s journey from substance abuse to recovery, stating that her addiction to opioids started at her dentist’s office. She was having her wisdom teeth removed, a very common procedure among adolescents that typically warrants pain medication, but she was prescribed a 30-day supply and was not properly educated on the effects an opioid can produce. Having only experienced pain for a few days, she continued to take the medication because it made her feel invincible, powerful even, and the extra pills were just laying around. Unfortunately, this is how opioid addiction usually starts: with a prescription. Patients these days are also going to extreme lengths to obtain these substances such as doctor shopping to receive more medication, buying or selling on the black market, and sharing prescriptions with friends and family.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

Of course this isn’t the first time dentists are being victimized as the gatekeepers for these controlled substances. There has been a dramatic rate of response from organizations across the country in regards to this increasing epidemic. Senator Dick Durbin of IL recently wrote a letter to the American Dental Association (ADA), among other associations, which ultimately bashed the industry and claimed that dentists fail to take responsibility for its role contributing to the crisis and that they’re taking advantage of perceived financial incentives to over-treat pain. Likewise, articles published by JAMA and Harvard have made notion that the dental industry is a crucial piece of this epidemic puzzle.

Let’s play devil’s advocate and take a step back to evaluate what is most likely going on in dental offices. What are the pain points, exactly?

Paper prescriptions are not their friend.

Prescription pads or print-out prescriptions leave an immense amount of risk. Who’s to say a patient won’t alter the pill quantity, claim they lost their prescription, or worse, steal a prescription pad? It’s very easy to swipe a small piece of paper without anyone noticing.

They don’t know the unknown.

If a dentist doesn’t know a patient’s medication history, current medications, allergies, or any history of substance abuse, they cannot make an educated decision when it comes to what they prescribe.

They’re simply trying to do their job.

When a patient goes in for a procedure, a dentist naturally wants to make them as comfortable as possible—before, during, and post-surgery. However, prescribing opioids and at high amounts have become the norm nowadays and other alternatives, such as higher doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, aren’t even considered.

Luckily, e-Prescribing can mend all of these pain points, while also creating greater clinical efficiency and relieving a dentist’s anxiety for potential risk. It’s completely acceptable to not know all the answers or available resources that are out there as we combat this opioid crisis, but it’s not okay to turn a blind eye. Bottom line is: education is crucial during a time like this. Don’t remain a victim; take action and spearhead the change.

Sources: NBC News; JAMA; Harvard; Boston Globe

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

National Safety Month; The Danger of a Prescription

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The National Safety Council, in an effort to create awareness and reduce the leading causes of injury and death, has established June as National Safety Month. When one thinks of safety, perhaps the following comes to mind: wearing a seatbelt, keeping a close watch on little ones, or having emergency numbers on hand at all times. However, many fail to remember the importance of safety for prescribed medications—specifically prescriptions of controlled substances.

In 2012 alone, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids, which is more than enough to give every American adult their own bottle of pills. In comparison to ten, even five years ago, this number is dramatically increasing as time goes on and more and more opioid overdoses are being reported on a daily basis. Prince? Elvis? Sigmund Freud? Bueller…? While their stories may have been reported nationwide, people from all over the country and from all different backgrounds are unfortunately experiencing this crisis right in their backyard.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

The dental industry is often victimized as the gate keeper of such prescriptions, but luckily there are efforts in place to monitor how, when, and to whom these controlled substances are prescribed. That is, so long as the dental community, both prescribers and Dental Support Organizations (DSOs), are ready to step up and take action. Fortunately, electronic prescribing (e-Prescribing) has the power to assist in alleviating the opioid epidemic that is upon us, but how exactly?

• e-Prescribing diminishes the possibilities of duplicate or lost prescriptions since the prescription is sent directly to the patient’s pharmacy
• A patient will no longer have a paper prescription where the dispense quantity can be altered
• Prescribers will have access to a patient’s medication history, therefore they can determine if a patient is “doctor shopping” or has a history of substance abuse

Be an innovator and stay ahead of the curve, all while enhancing patient safety and quality of care. A patient’s wellbeing and the ever increasing amount of lost lives depends on it.

Sources: World Health Organization (WHO); American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

3 Reasons to Brush up on Men’s Oral Health

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Maintaining proper oral hygiene is an integral part of one’s overall health and well-being, but there’s a lot more to it than simply having white teeth and a nice smile. Infrequent dental visits and not having two X chromosomes unfortunately contribute to the lack of oral hygiene across the country. However, as we celebrate the men in our lives this June in recognition of Men’s Health Month, it’s imperative to create awareness of preventable health issues and encourage early detection and treatment.

While visiting the dentist may not exactly be an appealing way to spend one’s free time, here are three reasons why men should focus on their oral health:

Prevent vs. Treat

Did you know that lack of proper oral hygiene could lead to tooth loss, cancer, heart disease, and in some cases, death? Numbers show that men are more likely than women to develop oral and throat cancer and gum disease. Men typically shy away from visiting their dentists and only schedule an appointment when a problem arises, but catching any complications early on can relieve a lot of stress and associated high costs in the long run. This is especially important if they’re tobacco users as well.

Men Will Be Men

Men who participate in sports, specifically high contact sports such as football and hockey, have greater potential for trauma to their mouths and teeth, but wearing a mouth guard can prevent a lot of potential damage. Likewise for men who ride bicycles or motorcycles—a helmet should always be worn. They don’t need to limit their level of activity, but it helps to be smart about it.

Getting Noticed for the Right Reasons

In a dog-eat-dog world, first impressions are everything and getting noticed in a positive way can make or break opportunities. Men in the business world, family world, dating world—well, any kind of world, really— should make their oral health a top priority. Although a great first impression is important, leading by example for their families and children is equally, if not more, important.

Make men’s oral health a priority this month and encourage them to schedule an appointment with their dentist at least once per year. In the meantime—brush, floss, rinse, and repeat!

Sources: Colgate; Delta Dental

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

The Maine Mandate—Confronting Controlled Substances Head-On

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The annual Maine Dental Association (MDA) Convention commenced in Rockport, ME on Friday, June 10^th and it’s safe to say the event was a tremendous success. The DoseSpot team was fortunate to not only attend, but also announce the keynote speaker, Dr. Harold L. Crossley, whom is well known for his expertise regarding street drugs and the chemical dependency associated with such drugs. In his two-part session, “Street Drugs Exposed”, Dr. Crossley provided intriguing insight to the controlled substance epidemic that the United States is currently facing. He explained that chemical dependency is a primary, chronic, progressive, and relapsing disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. Dr. Crossley also further defined the term “chemical dependency” as a primary illness or disease that is characterized by addiction to a mood-altering chemical. It is progressive and chronic, and if left untreated, it can be fatal.

Headlines regarding overdoses seem to appear on a daily basis and one thing is certain—these drugs do not discriminate. The American Society of Addiction Medicine states that four out of five new heroin users are first addicted to prescription opioids because when the pill supply runs out, heroin is typically the next option. To be fair, the origins of this epidemic aren’t necessarily because of a prescriber’s bad behavior. The majority are well-intentioned prescribers that are simply trying to do their job the best way they know how. This disease and the increasing rate of fatalities, however, are devastating local communities across the country and have caused some states to take aggressive action.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

In an effort to better monitor the prescribing of such drugs, Maine has become the second state behind New York to mandate electronic prescribing for controlled substances and the third state to set a limit on the duration and daily strength of opioid prescriptions. Prescribers will also be required to partake in addiction training every two years. This may ignite some eye-rolls and perhaps a tinge of anxiety, but let’s look at the bigger picture. Dentists are often criticized for “irresponsibly” prescribing controlled substances and “taking advantage” of perceived financial incentives to over-treat pain. On the other hand, the majority of dentists believe they have been victims of prescription fraud or theft. The good news is, e-Prescribing can alleviate many pain points that dentists and society are collectively experiencing.

Here at DoseSpot, we understand that making any type of change can be difficult, but e-Prescribing doesn’t need to be one of them. Contact us today to learn how seamless the e-Prescribing transition can be with DoseSpot on your side.

Sources: Portland Press Herald; Boston Globe

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot, partnered with Lexicomp, is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

Luminello Adds The DoseSpot e-Prescribing Platform to New Psychiatry EMR

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NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, MA – DoseSpot, an industry leader in e-Prescribing integration platforms for medical, dental and telehealth software, today announced that Luminello, a user-friendly, psychiatrist-designed EMR, has successfully integrated DoseSpot.  Through the partnership, Luminello successfully completed Surescripts certification and their prescribers can now e-Prescribe controlled and non-controlled prescriptions to more than 65,000 pharmacies nationwide.

Luminello is a new psychiatry EMR for mental health providers designed by Dr. Ken Braslow, a board-certified psychiatrist in Child/Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry with an active private practice in San Francisco and Berkeley, California and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Luminello was built to help solve the challenges of running a psychiatry practice and Dr. Braslow needed an e-Prescribing solution to tightly integrate with his psychiatry specific workflow. The DoseSpot platform was Luminello’s top choice due to DoseSpot’s quick e-Prescribing integration process and quality customer service. The DoseSpot platform not only meets the e-Prescribing integration needs of Luminello, but it also provides prescribers with a simple and intuitive user interface for e-Prescribing controlled and non-controlled prescriptions.

To read the complete Press Release please visit DoseSpot.com/luminello-press-release.

DoseSpot is Hiring!

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Sales Development Specialist

DoseSpot is a dynamic and innovative leader in the electronic prescribing software market. At the intersection of the software and healthcare industries, we are on a hyper-growth curve. We are improving the healthcare experience for patients and doctors alike. We are looking for a talented and motivated Sales Development Specialist to join us in propelling DoseSpot forward.

The Sales Development Specialist will:

• Prospect leads through outbound efforts and develop leads from inbound sources
• Refine and update existing target list to workable leads
• Engage decision makers and nurture relationships using telephone, email and social channels
• Establish a daily routine including 40-50 calls per day using articulate phone skills
• Manage a pipeline of prospects and keep them interested until they are ready to make a buying decision, following up in a timely manner
• Be confident and articulate to answer “Why DoseSpot?” and “Why now?” to entice clients to learn more
• Uncover real needs and “pain points” of potential clients and understand their buying process
• Be expected to meet or exceed metrics determined for individual and company success and maintain accurate records
• Set client appointments for product demonstrations
• Follow up on every lead, call and question quickly
• Analyze closed sales to determine how marketing activities turned into customers and ultimately into sales

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum of 2 years in a sales or lead generation role or one year if in the healthcare software space
• Experience with Hubspot, Salesforce or other CRM is required
• Fluency with healthcare technology a plus (including EHR and e-Prescribing)
• A high curiosity with healthcare is a must
• Ability and affinity for prospecting new clients
• Must possess strong communication skills and upbeat attitude
• Creative thinker
• Ability to handle and defuse objections and uncover pain points
• Self-motivated and goal oriented
• Knowledge of MS Word and Excel and ability to learn new technology quickly
• Ability to stay organized and complete appropriate follow up with leads
• Ability to work out of our Needham Heights office every day in a team oriented atmosphere and willingness to travel occasionally

Compensation consists of base pay and commission with specific deliverables and metrics.

Additional reasons to join our dynamic team: 

• Full time position with a robust benefit package including company-subsidized health insurance and much more.
• Casual and fun atmosphere (no suits and ties here!)
• Work/life balance

How to apply:

To be considered, please submit a resume and cover letter as a single .pdf file here: http://bit.ly/1T6vGwk. In the cover letter, please give an example of a tactic or process you have been successful with that has allowed you to get past the “gatekeeper” and speak with the decision maker.

Dentaweb Integrates DoseSpot Dental e-Prescribing Platform

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NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, MA (PRWEB) AUGUST 06, 2015

DoseSpot, an industry leader in e-Prescribing integration platforms for medical, dental and telehealth software, today announced that Dentaweb, a web based total Dental Practice Management solution, has successfully integrated DoseSpot. Through the partnership, Dentaweb successfully completed Surescripts certification and their dentists can now e-Prescribe controlled and non-controlled prescriptions to more than 65,000 pharmacies nationwide.

Dentaweb is a flagship brand of American Management Group, LLC, an IT driven company providing innovative, efficient and reliable solutions in the field of Dental Practice Management to more than 150 dental practices. The DoseSpot Dental platform has been a top choice for dental software companies due to DoseSpot’s quick e-Prescribing integration plans and excellent customer support. The DoseSpot Dental platform not only meets the needs of dental software companies, but it also provides general dentists and specialists with a simple and intuitive user interface for e-Prescribing controlled and non-controlled prescriptions.

“The 2014 Surescripts National Progress Report highlighted that while 73 percent of pharmacies nationwide are equipped for e-Prescribing of Controlled Substance (EPCS), only 1.4 percent of prescribers are equipped to send them”, said Greg Waldstreicher, CEO, DoseSpot.1 “We are excited to see DoseSpot fully integrated with Dentaweb so their dentists can take part in safely and securely sending controlled substances electronically.”

Last year, DoseSpot completed a third-party EPCS audit with Drummond Group Inc., a global software test and certification body that was approved by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to audit EPCS software applications. Through DoseSpot, Dentaweb also successfully completed an EPCS integration review by Drummond Group Inc. and dentists located at all Dentaweb clinics can now e-Prescribe controlled substances.

“DoseSpot was easy to integrate and their client engagement team provided excellent technical support throughout the e-Prescribing integration process”, said Vinay Pandya of Dentaweb. “In addition, Dentaweb is proud to be associated with DoseSpot and we are excited to offer e-Prescribing to our dental providers.”

For more information on DoseSpot’s EPCS software, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com or contact Lindsay Walsh, Lindsay(at)dosespot(dot)com.

About Dentaweb 
Dentaweb headed by CEO Arun Savani is a web based total Dental Practice management solution offering software as a service in the areas including Dental Practice Management, Revenue Cycle Management, Financial Reporting and Practice Performance Management.

About DoseSpot 
DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

References 
1. Surescripts “2014 National Progress Report.” 2015. Available at http://surescripts.com/docs/default-source/national-progress-reports/surescripts-2014-national-progress-report.pdf.

Read the full press release here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/08/prweb12890940.htm