Why Electronic Prescriptions Should Be Required in All EMRs

Today is the digital age. Almost everything is done electronically and now, a critical aspect of health care is about to take the plunge. In the spirit of improved efficiency, accuracy and to keep up with ever-evolving technologies, a system has been developed that will revolutionize patient prescriptions. These electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions) provide a much needed means of enhancing the safety of patients, as well as helping to reign in out-of-control drug costs.

E-prescriptions replace traditional paper ones, filling them out electronically using special software connected to a system of cooperating pharmacies. This method provides a great deal of benefit to both healthcare staff and patients.

The Benefits of Using E-prescriptions

1. They remove the possibility of medical record errors due to misread handwriting, eliminating a common danger to patients and reducing the chances of a malpractice lawsuit. The possibility of unauthorized prescriptions is similarly negated.
2. E-prescription programs come with safety features that warn about potential drug interactions or allergies and recommend proper dosage when checked against a patient's electronic medical records. Also contained in the software are drug reference manuals that list drug data such as contraindications, side effects and ingredients.
3. It allows immediate and convenient access to patient health records, speeding up the care process, improving accuracy and serving as an instant alert system preventing mix ups and dangerous prescriptions.
4. Prescription processing time is shortened dramatically. There will no longer be any need for faxes and phone calls to the pharmacy. A patient's ability to get their time-sensitive prescriptions promptly will be increased greatly. Also eliminated is the need for pharmacies to call back seeking explanations, answers and refill requests. All of this will be done automatically, saving time and money.
5. E-prescriptions can help lower the incidence of prescription drug abuse. Because it shows any other prescriptions a patient has, even from another doctor, it eliminates the likelihood of duplicates and forgeries. If the patient has a history of drug abuse, doctors may see this data in the records and know to avoid dispensing certain drugs to the patient. This feature also serves to protect healthcare workers from DEA action.
6. E-prescribing provides improvement for many facets of organization. Paper is made obsolete, reducing the need for storage and office help. Patient records are kept in one place and readily available. Furthermore, it enables greater organization and efficiency when dealing with a large patient volume, as in emergency rooms.