| E-Prescriptions on the Horizon |
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| Written by Jennifer Flaten | ||||||||
| Wednesday, 16 January 2008 09:25 | ||||||||
While E-prescriptions are still relatively new, there is no doubt that they promise significant benefits to both patients and Doctors. One of the most tangible benefits for Doctors is that they spend less time responding to questions the pharmacy may have about hand written prescriptions. A special report shows that currently, 9% of all medication errors can be traced back to misinterpretation of the written prescription. When (and if) the E-prescription system becomes mandatory, this problem will be completely eliminated. The patient also benefits, as many do not pay careful attention to the Doctors explanation of their medication. This inattention makes it impossible for the patient to catch any errors the pharmacist may make. The online prescription system also saves an enormous amount of time for the Doctor. Studies show that on average, a doctor fills 30 new prescriptions and up to 30 refill prescriptions per day. The electronic order system streamlines the refill process. It also makes filling new prescriptions less time consuming. This ultimately benefits the patient, as Doctors have more time to see individual patients. Problems also arise because patients do not always accurately report what other medications or supplements they are taking. The electronic prescription system, along with integrated electronic health records, can prevent dangerous drug interactions. An important part of the online prescription system is its clinical decision support that allows a doctor to immediately receive allergy interaction, dosage information and alternative therapies. Research has shown that the E-prescription system helps keep the cost of prescriptions down for the patients by ensuring that pharmacies follow drug company formularies, and ensuring generic equivalents are used when appropriate. Another benefit is that E-prescriptions cannot be altered by the patient. This prevents misuse of prescriptions. The online prescription system has already greatly improved both the Doctor's daily schedule and the patient's overall care. At this time, Government and industry officials are working to mandate the use of electronic prescription systems by the year 2010. | ||||||||
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About the Author: Jeff Merron is a full-time freelance editor, journalist, and copywriter who has written for the New York Times Magazine, ESPN.com, Slate, Byte Magazine, Macworld, Consumers Digest, and many other national publications. He's also a regular contributor to IT Business Insider and 108, a baseball magazine. He has a Ph.D. in Mass Communication Research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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