Electronic prescribing, also called eprescribing, is a method of increasing the efficiency and accuracy of processing drug prescriptions by using computer software for communication between doctors and pharmacies. There are a number of benefits that eprescribing provides as opposed to using traditional hand written prescriptions. These combined benefits can help the prescribing doctor, the patient and the pharmacy.
One of the largest benefits from using an eprescribing system is the elimination of the uncertainty which can occur due to poor or illegible handwriting. An eprescribing system requires that the physician use software to enter in a prescription. By using only standardized menus and strict input controls, any ambiguity can be removed from the process.
Another important benefit is that the system allows instant and secure access to patient information. When prescribing a medication, the doctor can see the patient's medical records to check for drug interactions. The eprescription system itself will also attempt to check for interactions. This can compensate for doctors who have been unable to keep up with fast changing pharmaceutical information.
Eprescribing also creates an instant electronic link between the doctor and the pharmacy that will be filling the prescription. The data is transmitted to the pharmacy when the doctor writes the prescription. The pharmacy receives the information and has access to further automatic safeguards within their own version of the system. If the pharmacy has any questions, they can contact the doctor electronically. The doctor can respond and even modify the prescription right from his office without having to sit on the phone.
The fact that so much of the process can occur in moments between the doctor and the pharmacy can increase efficiency for both sides. Doctors no longer have to field calls from the pharmacy, pull records, and double check information within their own proprietary record keeping system. Instead, they are able to use the eprescribing system to find the information quickly. This reduces the amount of time that a doctor needs to spend on follow-up and can save an office money.
Pharmacies benefit because there is no uncertainty about what the prescription is. They have a direct way to contact the doctor quickly and accurately. They also have the ability to allow the doctor to modify an incorrect prescription purely through the eprescription system.
The patient benefits from all of this because unknown drug interactions will be caught. They also can spend much less time in the pharmacy and can even get refills quickly and easily. Eprescribing systems offer a great number of benefits at every level of the prescription process. These benefits will only increase as their prevalence increases.