Learn more about our new Electronic Medication Administration Record and our free Remote Desktop Support service.

• The search criteria for the "Select a Patient" window will remember your last used criteria (i.e., patient ID, room, name, etc). This allows each user to use the search method they prefer without having to reselect the same criteria.  Medical Record number has also been added as a patient search option.
  
• The "CURES" reporting export was previously added for DEA (Schedule II-V) outpatient orders. Now the new field, "Date Written", has been added to Outpatient Orders so it can be included in the CURES export. 
  
• Any "non-scheduling" abbreviation or code used in the 'Sig' can now be replaced automatically by a full description. (e.g., "HA" --> "headache", "HTN" --> "hypertension").  Previously, only "scheduling" codes (e.g., BID, Q6H) could be automatically replaced. This helps meet JCAHO requirements for banned abbreviations and improves medication safety.
  
• Charges: 
  • Manually entered charges will be checked to ensure the transaction date is +/- the user-defined number of days from the current system date. 
    
  • Charges Screening report: we added screening for transaction dates that are +/- the user-defined number of days from current system date, and from Patient's Discharge date. This will help you identify and correct many improperly manually entered charge transaction dates.
    
  • We added the field, "Total Patient Charge", on the "Charges Transmitted" reports.
    
• Security: 
  • An "Archived/Inactive" employee status has been added to help manage large employee security lists.  
    
  • A new option, "Student/Intern", has also been added to the employee "positions" list.
    
• HIPAA: 
  • We added the ability to require users to change their logon passwords according to a predefined schedule
    
  • You can now prevent passwords from being less than a specified minimum length 
    
  • You can limit the view of a satellite pharmacy to just those beds serviced by the satellite pharmacy 
    
• New Reports:
  • ADT Activity (shows ADT changes between two specified dates/times)
    
  • HIPAA Patient Access (access log filtered by User or Date Range)
    
  • Order Renewal (a.k.a. "Continuum of Care" report; prints "Renew" and Do Not Renew" check boxes and spaces for the physician's signature/date)
    
  • Census Statistics (displays the daily census count and the average census for a specified period)
    
  • Inventory Purchasing History (displays all purchasing history for a selected date range)
    
• Other Report/Batch print enhancements:
  • Drug Utilization Report: we added Medical Record Number as a selection criterion and to the report itself. 
    
  • A "User" filter has been added to the "Clinical Review" and "Clinical Statistics" reports.  
    
  • We added a "Doctor" filter to the "Drug Utilization Totals" Report.
    
  • Batch label printing: a "unit" filter has been added.
    
  • You can set up your MARs with 2 shifts per day under "Utilities", "MAR Options".
    
  • The "Formulary Pricing" utility now allows you to export the "Drug Price" file in HMS format.
    
• Outpatient prescriptions: we added several "Verify-type" of enhancements including: 
  • Outpatient orders are part of the order verification list. 
    
  • Fields for "Entered by" and "Verified By" persons are now available for outpatient prescriptions.
    
  • A new outpatient " Prescription Quote" tool has been added under the Charges menu
    

January 2005:

Fingerprint verification can be made available for Ascend-IP customers who want to implement a biometric security access method and/or "electronic signatures". 

• With this feature installed and turned-on, the user enters a username at login time (as usual) then presses his/her finger to a fingerprint reader.  The Ascend-IP program compares the fingerprint to the user's fingerprint data previously stored within Ascend-IP's database and then allows them, or denies them, access to the program.
  

• Some states require an "electronic signature" that unmistakably identifies the pharmacist who either enters a new order and/or edits an order received via a CPOE system. Without electronic signatures, the facility must maintain a copy of the order with the pharmacist's signature on it. Ascend-IP's fingerprint scanning option eliminates all the paperwork.
  

• Some customers will want to implement fingerprint verification upon login to (a) stop users from sharing their passwords (b) eliminate users forgetting their passwords (c) eliminate the need to occasionally change passwords (d) tighten security, especially in locations where the pharmacy software may be accessible to non-pharmacy staff. 
  

• The Ascend-IP security system provides a means of recording fingerprints for each person who will require access to the software or will require an electronic signature. 
  

• Hann's On Software developed this security feature to work with Precise Biometrics "100 AX" USB fingerprint readers, and with other "100 AX" models (keyboards, laptop cards, etc). As of December 2004, the stand-alone USB reader was available from several distributors at approximately $120 each. 
  

• If you are interested in implementing fingerprint scanning security at your facility, please contact HOS to learn how.
  

November/December 2004: New Features

• View your patient's medication history for several different admissions by using the new "Patient Admission History" menu selection.  Multiple admissions can be linked for this purpose by using the same medical record number in each of the patient's admission records. This feature also makes it easier for you to meet JCAHO safety recommendations for improved continuum of care.
  

• The CURES controlled substances data export is now available for Ascend-IP outpatient prescriptions.  

August/September/October 2004: New Features

• An option to create an audit trail for manually entered charges/credits is now available. If this option is turned on, 
  the order history log will show when each charge/credit was manually entered, who entered it and the quantity. 
  

• A new "Renew Orders" report will allow doctors to designate which active orders are to be renewed following their patient's surgery, transfer to/from ICU and the like.
  

• If an allergy is listed in a clinical intervention/alert box (e.g., following order entry, or in pop-up box when an order is selected), the list "header" or pop-up window frame will appear in bright red to raise attention to the allergy.
  

• The program can now automatically contact the HOS website to extend your update reminder and license for an additional time period. This automatic extension process does NOT make any program changes or update your pricing/clinical tables. This new feature eliminates the need for regular updates (and the associated reminder message) and allows you to chose a more convenient day to update your pricing/clinical databases and/or program versions. The previous update reminder message will only appear if the program is unable to extend your license automatically (e.g., no Internet access).
  

• A new HOS website update option allows you to update your pricing/clinical tables and extend your update reminder without changing your Ascend-IP program version. All other website update options remain available.
  

• Printed MARs with barcodes: Although most customers want the superior safety features of our Electronic MAR, others may prefer a printed MAR. Ascend-IP customers can now optionally include barcodes on their printed MAR. One barcode identifies the patient while the others identify each drug order. The printed MAR barcodes will be used in conjunction with Ascend-IP's barcode labels (see July 2004), or with external barcode labels. Using a barcode scanner, the nurse will be able to scan pairs of barcodes to be sure (1) the patient's wristband barcode matches the MAR barcode (right patient) and (2) the MAR order barcode matches the drug label barcode (right drug). Hann's On Software will provide a utility program to support the barcode scanning process.
  

• Corinthian Colleges reaches a milestone having installed Ascend-IP in 28 of its North American facilities so far.
  

June/July 2004: New Features and a new electronic MAR program

• Barcode label options: Ascend-IP can now print barcodes on labels for IV orders, unit dosed medications and/or patient admission labels. Drop-down options let you select which barcode value (if any) to add to each label (e.g., patient billing account number, medical record number, order number, NDC, charge code).  The barcodes on these labels can be used with the Ascend-eMAR (Electronic Medication Record), and with Ascend-IP's printed MARS, to improve medication safety. Contact HOS to obtain a "barcode labels" file if you wish to implement this feature.
  

• Electronic Medication Administration Record: HOS announces that its Electronic MAR (Ascend-eMAR) is undergoing testing at a hospital in Southern California, one that is also using our Ascend-IP pharmacy software. We'll keep you posted on our progress!
  

• Our web-based Remote Desktop Support (see May 2004) is now available directly from the Ascend-IP help menu.
  

• HOS is the first vendor to automatically process pregnancy/lactation data from an HIS vendor via its Interface Engine, relieving pharmacy staff from having to manually enter this data to meet JCAHO requirements.
  

• Fill-list (a.k.a., pick list) reports can now be configured to handle "starter doses" that have already been dispensed in any manner needed to fit unique distribution and billing procedures.
  

• A direct link to Trissel's Pharmaceutics database (via the Internet) was added to the Ascend-IP "Clinical" menu
  

• Ascend-IP's IV rates were expanded to include all common units of measure (e.g., "Mcg/Kg/Hr", etc.)

April/May 2004

New Remote Desktop Support service

Hann's On Software (HOS) customers now have a new software support option that we provide at no additional cost! You can connect any of your computers directly to your HOS support representative on an "on-the-fly" basis. For example, if you have a technical problem, or want help configuring an Ascend option, or you want to see how to use a program feature, you can ask your HOS support person to work directly on your computer while you watch.  Your HOS support rep will be able to see and operate your computer, make any changes you may need, and demonstrate how to perform program functions, among many other uses. The temporary connection is controlled by you and is completely secure. The connection method meets all HIPAA security and privacy requirements. When you are done with the support call, HOS has no further ability to see or operate your computer unless you choose to share it once again. 

New Features

• A number of automated database maintenance utilities make it super-easy for customers to "write their own rules" to manage their database. For example, you can ask Ascend-IP to "automatically discharge outpatients that have not been discharged after 2 days", or "purge patient's discharge records if they have no medication orders", and many similar functions. 
  

• An all-new Ascend-IP inventory control and receiving module was made available
  

• Ascend-IP was recently featured in a poster session presented at the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists Meeting. The poster promoted Ascend-IP as a software solution for rural hospitals in Texas.
  

• Medication safety: HOS confirmed that using Ascend-IP, they can meet all JCAHO/National Safety requirements that were to be in place by April 2004. HOS also added additional safety features such as the ability to automatically replace any abbreviation found in the directions for use with it "full English" counterpart. This will likely help HOS customers meet many future safety recommendations that may arise.
  

• A new HOS Interface Engine allows our customers to license and manage multiple sessions/connections with multiple vendors using one software program. For example, one HOS interface engine can simultaneously manage your Pyxis ADT/orders/billing interface, your hospital billing and ADT interfaces, and your CPOE/orders interface. 
  

• Pregnancy/Lactation fields: pharmacy can now easily document whether a patient is pregnant or lactating as required by JCAHO
  

• New reports and screenings for "high charge quantities" let you identify charge/credit problems before charges are transmitted.
  

See a comprehensive list of all Ascend-IP features.