The Health Care Notification Network (HCNN) is an online service that delivers important safety alerts via e-mail to physicians. Currently, these patient safety alerts (known as “Dear Doctor Letters”) are sent to physicians on paper, via traditional U.S. mail. 

Anticipated to begin July 2008, the HCNN is designed to improve the speed and efficacy of the delivery of patient safety alerts. Since the HCNN uses a dedicated online network as the alert notification vehicle, physicians will receive safety alerts before their patients learn about them in the press. HCNN is operated by Medem and funded by the drug and product manufacturers who use it; the network excludes advertising.

The Food and Drug Administration updated their regulations to make it clear that:

• the use of electronic systems to deliver patients safety alerts fulfilled FDA regulations, and
• electronic systems were often preferable to paper-based alerts.

FDA endorses the online delivery of patient safety alerts and provides liaison representation to the iHealth Alliance’s Board of Directors. Participation in HCNN is up to the discretion of the individual manufacturers. None of the e-mail addresses collected will be sold or disclosed to any third parties.

U.S. licensed physicians can register for the free service at www.hcnn.net. HCNN provides a detailed Frequently Asked Questions to physicians; HCNN representatives are also available toll free at 1 (866) 925-5155 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST.

Physicians who do not subscribe to this e-mail notification service will continue to receive paper-based safety alerts through traditional U.S. mail.