For Immediate Release

Contact: John M. Martino
Phone Number:  (215) 895-1186
Date: 10/08/01

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Announces New EBusiness Fellow

During the past five years, digital technology has dramatically impacted the way the pharmaceutical industry interacts with providers, insurers, employers, patients and consumers.  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) has recognized this phenomenon by launching an eBusiness Research Program in the office of Advanced Concepts USP targeted to the pharmaceutical industry.  In addition, USP announced that Diana Papshev, Pharm.D., a former resident in managed care pharmacy practice, has become the University's first e-Business Fellow, and one of the first anywhere, in the pharmaceutical arena.

Papshev's duties include conducting research and examining impacts of technology in health care.  Two of the main areas of e-Business that she is focusing her attention on are ePrescribing and eDetailing.  In ePrescribing, physicians use handheld devices to prescribe electronically rather than through sometimes-illegible handwritten prescriptions.  This method promises to improve patient care and decrease drug spending, while helping to eliminate medical errors.  With eDetailing, pharmaceutical companies are using technology to their benefit by giving medical sales representatives an opportunity to inform physicians about their products via computers instead of face-to-face meetings.

"The major pharmaceutical manufacturing companies have included e-Business strategies in their marketing campaigns," says Papshev, "and they'll need people with e-Business expertise and also clinical knowledge to guide them through these strategies."

USP's eBusiness Fellowship is a two-year program that combines a world-class academic learning environment with real world application of the concepts in the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare.  The first year will focus on learning the basic principles of health economics, health policy, statistics and research methods, while the second year will revolve around activities that address a sponsoring firm's research topic.  USP's eBusiness fellow also has the opportunity to pursue a Master's degree in health policy, pharmacy administration or another related program. The program's purpose is to teach fellows how to apply research tools learned at USP in the fields related to eBusiness to define and assess initiatives for applicability and market potential.

"At Advanced Concepts USP, we see eBusiness as the future of both the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, says S. Michael Ross, MD, vice president of Strategic Business at USP. And, as new technologies and innovative applications emerge, we also see an urgent need for unbiased research to measure the impact of these new technologies on business and -- ultimately patient care. Our goal is to stand out as the leader when it comes to rigorous research and subsequent training and education activities for eBusiness in our industry."

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