Electronic Prescribing Options for Health Care Providers

Technology is ever-changing, with new software becoming available on an almost daily basis. Technology affects almost every industry in the United States, with a huge impact being placed on the field of medicine.

As research techniques become more advanced, so do other aspects of health care, including prescription writing.

Electronic Prescribing

• The US Department of Health and Human Services states that electronic prescribing, referred to as e-prescribing, "is a prescriber's ability to electronically send an accurate, error-free and understandable prescription directly to a pharmacy from the point-of-care - is an important element in improving the quality of patient care."
  Ultimately, this form of prescribing will alleviate common mistakes such as illegible handwriting or wrong prescription information. It will prove to serve as a more cautious, safer way to prescribe medication. Although the technology is available, many physicians are unaware of the different types of e-prescribing available.

Stand Alone System

• The most inexpensive, and least complex to begin using is the stand alone system. These systems are created to store and implement all prescribing information for existing and new patients.

  With a new system, physicians are offered two software options, the first is software you purchase and install on your computers. The second, the most popular of the two is an e-prescribing software application service provider that you pay usage fees to on a monthly basis.

Electronic Health Record System

• An Electronic Health Record System, or an EHR, is by far more beneficial than a stand alone system. An EHR provides patient diagnoses, problem lists, clinical notes, laboratory and radiology results and orders immediately at any time. Significantly more costly than a stand alone system, it is also harder to begin using and training is usually required, with a fee.

Tips

• If you are a physician and apprehensive about converting your practice over to an electronic system, you may be persuaded by the incentive that began in January of 2009. Medicare is offering financial incentives to physicians who switch over to a Medicare approved electronic prescribing system. Both of the above are approved and monitored by Medicare.

  Clearly, for older physicians, transferring all their data and prescription duties to a computer is a greater challenge. Many physicians feel their current methodology is a proven and effective way of practicing medicine and are not willing to spend the monies necessary for electronic prescribing.