<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Nancy M</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:nmiracle@gmail.com">nmiracle@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 6:23 PM<br>
Subject: Prescription Labeling for Blind and Low Vision: Public hearings to determine our future!<br>To: <a href="mailto:macvisionaries@googlegroups.com">macvisionaries@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana">What:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana"> The US Access Board
Working Group on Accessible Prescription Labels is holding open meetings to
determine best practices for labeling prescriptions for the blind and
visually impaired. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana">When:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana"> Monday, March 18 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Eastern Time<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana">Where:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana"> Telephone <a href="tel:888-603-7094" target="_blank" value="+18886037094">888-603-7094</a>, passcode
6317703. Dial in any time during
the meeting; the public comment period is anticipated to start between 4:15 and
4:30 pm Eastern time.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana">Why:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana"> Prescription information should be
accessible to everyone, regardless of vision condition. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The board is not, at this time, considering codes
that can be read by mobile devices such as the iPhone or Android and it is not
considering mobile technology as an option for label reading or recording. We believe that this is an option that
should be included in the recommendations because of its convenience, low cost
of implementation, power and portability.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">We encourage you to find out more about this
committee and to consider giving some input on the topic because the results
almost certainly will determine how your prescriptions are labeled in the
future. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">For more information, read on!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana">How
does the Working Group affect you?<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The US Access Board Working Group on Accessible
Prescription Labels is holding hearings to determine best practices for
labeling prescriptions for the blind and visually impaired. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The working group is a public body and meetings
are open to the public. So, if you
want to participate and make your opinions known, you have a chance to do so!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The next meeting is scheduled Monday, March 18 </span><span style="font-family:Verdana">from 1:00pm to 5:00pm
ET. The Access Board will be specifically discussing audio labeling of
prescriptions. The document they
are working from is here:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.access-board.gov/drug-labels/practices-summary.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana">http://www.access-board.gov/drug-labels/practices-summary.htm</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">And the hearing will start with the line titled
“</span><strong>Practice of Providing Audible Labels -- Digital voice recorders
attached to a prescription drug container”</strong><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The committee typically discusses their document
and then saves the last 30 or 45 minutes for a “Public Forum” and open the
phone lines for public comments.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The dial-in number is <a href="tel:888-603-7094" target="_blank" value="+18886037094">888-603-7094</a> and the pass
code is 6317703. You can dial in
any time. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">We'd like to encourage people who are
interested in mobile solutions to attend the next meeting by phone and speak up
for the option of including mobile technology as one of the audio options.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">We recommend that you prepare a short statement
to read to the committee that says something to the effect:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">“My
name is _____________ and my vision condition is ________________. I use the iPhone and other mobile
technology in my daily life <u>(give examples as to why it is useful</u>). I believe that the commit should
include the use of labeling that can be read and voiced by mobile devices such
as the Android or iPhone because (state your reason for wanting mobile
technology included – we believe it is a useful solution because it means we
don’t have to carry around a bulky reader or use a special recorder and can
just use the same convenient prescription bottles that everyone else uses!)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">It
is not all that common for us, as citizens, to be able to influence the course
of legislation, but this is a great opportunity to speak up and say what <b><u>we</u></b> want and how <b><u>we</u></b> want it!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana">Using
Labels Readable with Digital Technology<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">At this time, the committee is considering only
existing solutions such as bottle recorders and ScriptTalk. We believe that it
is in everyone’s best interest to understand that there is no single good
solution to making prescription labels accessible and that the range of
solutions should include the use of labels (QR code and other) that can be read
by devices such as the iPad, iPod, Android or iPhone.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">Here is a sample pharmaceutical label that can
be printed on a simple, inexpensive round label and fitted on the bottom of a
standard 40ml prescription bottle.
</span><a href="http://www.digit-eyes.com/graphics/pharma-see/sampleLabel1.png" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana">http://www.digit-eyes.com/graphics/pharma-see/sampleLabel1.png</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><img hspace="9" align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;clear:both"><a style="margin-right:1em;margin-left:1em" href="http://www.digit-eyes.com/graphics/pharma-see/sampleLabel1.png" target="_blank"><img border="0"></a></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The code above can be scanned and voiced with any QR
code scanning app on the iPhone, Android or other device that can read and
voice QR codes. You can, for instance,
read it with the free version of Digit-Eyes:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://appstore.com/digiteyeslite" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana">https://appstore.com/digiteyeslite</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">As shown in the sample label, the content can
include personalized information about the prescription as well as a link to
the authoritative source of information about the medicine in the bottle (in
this case, a sample penicillin label, a link is included to the Medline Plus
page for the specific formulation in the bottle.) </span><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a685015.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a685015.html</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The advantage of this type of labeling is
straightforward: for people who
have a phone that can scan codes, no bulky reader or awkward addition to their
pill bottle is needed. The
“reader” is where the person is – it won’t be accidentally left behind and the
phone is easily charged and highly reliable. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana">More
information about Our Porposal<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">We have been attending the meetings both in
person and by phone and we will continue to do so. We presented Digit-Eyes to the board and described a new
product titled “Pharma-See” that we are proposing to give away as a free app to
consumers. This new product
uses the existing Digit-Eyes scanning, recording and playback technology or the
existing text technology (as best suits the customer and pharmacy) and it is
set up to allow pharmacies to do a simple one-time recording on a label on the
bottom of the bottle. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">More information: </span><a href="http://pharma-see.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana">http://pharma-see.com</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana">About
the board<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The charter of the board:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.access-board.gov/news/drug-labels-working-group.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana">http://www.access-board.gov/news/drug-labels-working-group.htm</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The overview and minutes:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.access-board.gov/drug-labels/index.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana">http://www.access-board.gov/drug-labels/index.htm</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The recommendations from the meeting of the
Access Board on January 10-11:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.access-board.gov/drug-labels/practices-summary.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana">http://www.access-board.gov/drug-labels/practices-summary.htm</span></a><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p></p>
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<br>
<br>
</font></span></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div>Marianne Denning, TVI, MA</div><div>Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired</div><div>(513) 607-6053</div>