Thomson Healthcare Launches Enhanced Asthma Control Resource

Thomson Healthcare Launches Enhanced Asthma Control Resource

PR Newswire via NewsEdge Corporation :

SEATTLE, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thomson Healthcare's (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) NexProfiler Treatment Options Tool for Asthma has been enhanced to incorporate the step therapy approach to medication use and asthma control recommended by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program.

"More than 22 million people are living with asthma in the U.S. today," said Dr. John Morgan, Thomson Healthcare's respiratory specialist. "Asthma- related prescription drugs represent the single largest medical expenditure - $6.2 billion annually. With the step therapy, we can help patients play a more active role in their care and, in turn, control some of the costs."

"Through the NexProfiler tool, asthma sufferers can respond to an easy-to- follow questionnaire that asks about current symptoms and medications. The tool will generate a patient treatment report that reflects the status of their asthma control. With this report, they can talk with their doctors and take steps toward achieving optimal control of their condition," Morgan said.

Prior to the introduction of step therapy, providers developed a treatment plan based on the severity of patients' asthma symptoms. Under the new guidelines, providers assess the level of control patients have over their asthma symptoms and add or subtract medications as needed to obtain complete control, which is assessed at repeat physician or clinic visits every three to six months to adjust treatment as symptoms change over time.

To meet this substantial change in treatment guidelines, Dr. Morgan revised the Thomson Healthcare NexProfiler Treatment Options Tool for Asthma to match the stepwise approach to asthma control. The revised tool helps NexCura's 30,000 asthma tool users gain greater understanding of their current level of asthma control and explains the treatment options relevant to them that they can discuss with their doctors to improve that control. To learn more about the NexProfiler asthma solution visit www.nexcura.com.

About Thomson Healthcare

Thomson Healthcare (www.thomsonhealthcare.com) is the leading provider of decision support solutions that help organizations across the healthcare industry improve clinical and business performance. Clinicians, hospitals, employers, health plans, employers, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies use Thomson Healthcare products and services to manage the cost and improve the quality of healthcare. The Thomson Corporation provides value- added information, software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of healthcare, law, tax, accounting, scientific research, and financial services. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC).

SOURCE Thomson Healthcare