Electronic prescribing or e-prescribing is the process of sending a prescription electronically from the computer of a health care professional/doctor to a pharmacy. This method of sending a prescription is meant to replace a traditional paper prescription or a fax sent to the pharmacy from the doctor's office.

E-prescribing may reduce some common errors associated with traditional methods of prescription writing such as loosing the prescription, poor handwriting or fraudulent prescriptions. Sending prescriptions electronically also allows for the prescriptions to be received and filled faster, often just shortly after the patient leaves the doctor's office.

Electronic prescribing requires a doctor (single practitioner or group practice as of 2010) to acquire the appropriate software used to send the prescriptions to the selected pharmacy. Most electronic medical record systems already have the capabilities necessary to set up an e-prescribing system. The process is relatively simple:

• The prescriber/authorized health professional logs into the system
• Authentication is achieved with 2 out of 3 accepted forms of ID: password, fingerprint/retinal scan or other biometric methods or a magnetic card/physical security token
• The patient information is located in the system
• The drug(s) to be prescribed are selected noting strength, quantity and related directions, number of refills
• When a drug order is initiated the patient's medical information becomes available, including medications currently being taken, any allergies, etc.
• The software may suggest alternate drugs because they are more effective, less expensive or avoid conflicts with existing medications
• A pharmacy is then selected
• The order is sent via an encrypted connection directly to the pharmacy
• The pharmacy receives the order via their computer system
• The order is filled and picked up by the patient who then pays any costs related to the prescription

The concept of electronic prescribing is not new. Origins of the idea date to a 2000 study showing that errors in prescription drug orders were linked to thousands of deaths each year. Issues relating to prescription errors included poor or illegible handwriting or instructions that weren't clear (dosage, warnings, etc.).

A similar study found that approximately 30 percent of prescriptions required a call-back to the pharmacy to clarify either the name of the drug or directions related to its use and administration. Electronic prescribing was launched on a wide scale in 2009 and continues to grow.

A study on the effectiveness of the program is underway, but early indications show support of e-prescribing among doctors and patients.