FDB (First Databank Inc)

First Databank (FDB) is a clinical knowledge and decision support data provider, not a traditional EMR/EHR vendor. Founded in 1977, FDB specializes in providing medication knowledge databases, drug interaction screening, clinical surveillance tools, and pharmacy data that integrate into existing healthcare IT systems. Rather than offering a complete electronic health record solution, FDB serves as a critical infrastructure component embedded within EMR/EHR platforms used by hospitals, health systems, pharmacies, and ambulatory practices.

FDB's core offerings include comprehensive drug databases covering medication information, clinical screening for drug interactions, duplicate therapy detection, allergy checking, dose range screening, and side effects data. The company maintains one of the most extensive medication knowledge bases in the healthcare industry, supporting decision-making at the point of prescribing and dispensing. FDB solutions are embedded in over 4,500 healthcare information systems globally, making it one of the most widely integrated clinical knowledge providers in the market.

The company operates on a B2B model, licensing its data and decision support tools to EMR/EHR vendors, pharmacy management system providers, health information exchanges, and payer systems. Major EMR vendors including Epic, Cerner, Allscripts, athenahealth, and eClinicalWorks integrate FDB's medication databases and clinical screening capabilities into their platforms. This integration approach allows healthcare organizations using these EMR systems to leverage FDB's clinical intelligence without needing separate software.

FDB's deployment model is API-based and cloud-enabled, providing continuous updates to drug information as FDA approvals, recalls, and clinical guidelines evolve. The company maintains multiple drug databases including FDB MedKnowledge, DoseRange Checking, and the National Drug Data File (NDDF Plus). FDB also offers specialized modules for medication therapy management, medication reconciliation, and opioid management.

The target market spans the entire healthcare ecosystem rather than specific practice sizes or specialties. FDB serves enterprise health systems, ambulatory practices, retail and specialty pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, payers, and government health programs. Its solutions support clinical decision-making across all medical specialties where medication management is critical.

Key differentiators include the depth and breadth of FDB's medication knowledge base, relationships with virtually all major EMR vendors, real-time drug information updates, and decades of expertise in pharmaceutical data management. FDB competes with other clinical knowledge providers like Wolters Kluwer's Medi-Span and Elsevier's Gold Standard, but maintains significant market share through its extensive integration partnerships and comprehensive data coverage.

FDB is owned by Hearst, a diversified media and information company, providing financial stability and resources for continued innovation. The company emphasizes interoperability standards including HL7, FHIR, and integration with pharmacy networks through Surescripts and NCPDP standards.