First DataBank has introduced its advanced integrated content software, the Drug Information Framework, for Canadian users. The Framework enables developers to encapsulate First DataBank knowledge bases into end-user health information systems quickly and economically.

The new Framework is for use with First DataBank's International Drug Data File-Canada (IDDF-CA), an accurate, comprehensive knowledge base that provides descriptive and clinical data for every drug product sold in Canada. The same Framework product can also be used with First DataBank's U.S. drug knowledge bases. For several years in the U.S., the Framework has been used to accelerate implementation of First DataBank's National Drug Data File (NDDF) in a variety of healthcare environments-such as pharmacy dispensing and computerized prescriber order entry systems (CPOE).

According to Product Manager Lisa Geller, the Framework now offers Canadian developers a faster and more economical way to deliver clinical decision-support information to their customers. "The IDDF-Canada knowledge base plays a vital role in supporting healthcare professionals in critical decision-making about dosing and orders, drug interactions, allergy alerts, disease contraindications, patient education and a whole lot more.

"The Framework," Geller said, "now has the ability to take our proven IDDF-Canada drug content and encapsulates it in a suite of intuitive, pre-built APIs and software components." This helps information system developers minimize product lead times, and make more efficient use of scarce resources, she said. The Framework's exceptionally flexible design, she noted, enables vendors to more easily differentiate their systems. "They can quickly implement either our standard functions, or customize their own."

Available in both COM and Java versions, the Framework enables developers to integrate drug content into multiple environments more quickly than was possible before. These include client/server networks, desktop, Internet and handheld wireless devices.

First DataBank Director of Marketing David Manin further observed that the Framework would be especially useful in reducing time to market for next-generation information system products. "With the Framework," Manin said, "developers can respond more rapidly to the needs of emerging markets for sophisticated, easy-to-access drug information products." He also noted that the Framework gives developers their choice of operating systems, relational database management systems and development tools. Ultimately, Manin pointed out, use of the Framework with First DataBank's proven IDDF drug content and clinical decision-support information can result in better healthcare outcomes, by minimizing medication errors that can lead to adverse drug events.