Eprescribing is short for electronic prescribing. It is the electronic transmission of a prescription from the health care provider to the pharmacy. The Medicare part D prescription drug program defines it as:
"E-prescribing means the transmission, using electronic media, of prescription or prescription-related information between a prescriber, dispenser, pharmacy benefit manager or health plan, either directly or through an intermediary, including an e-prescribing network. E-prescribing includes, but is not limited to, two way transmissions between the point of care and the dispenser."

How Does It Work?

Rather than handwriting a prescription, the health care provider enters it into their computer. It is then sent via a secure network connection to the patient's pharmacy. Over 75% of pharmacies in the United States are part of the eprecribing network, so the patient can choose where to send the prescription. Eprescribing can also be used to renew a prescription.

Benefits

There are numerous benefits to eprescribing. One benefit is that the prescription will arrive at the pharmacy before the patient. This means the patient reduces their wait time and doesn't have to make an extra trip to the pharmacy to drop the prescription off. It also means most patients will get their prescription filled. Often with hand-written prescriptions, patients won't fill them.

There are safety benefits to eprescribing. When a prescription is sent electronically, there is no chance of the pharmacist not being able to read the doctor's handwriting. This helps ensure the patient receives the proper drug and dosage. There are also alert systems in place in the electronic prescription system that will check for drug interactions or allergies against the patient are other prescriptions. If there is a drug recall, patient's who have received a prescription electronically are easier to contact.

Eprescribing increases efficiency in the pharmacy and eliminates paperwork. It also reduces the number of callbacks between health care providers and pharmacies.

When the doctor writes an electronic prescription, they are able to view what drugs are covered by the patient's insurer, what needs preauthorization, and other prescriptions the patient is taking. This often leads to both time and money being saved by the patient.

Each year the number of health care providers and pharmacies providing the use of electronic prescriptions increase. Some day soon, hand-written prescriptions may be a thing of the past.