EMR and Electronic Prescriptions
EMR and electronic prescriptions are beneficial to doctors and patients alike. When the prescriber can provide the prescription electronically to the pharmacy, errors are significantly reduced and the quality of patient care skyrockets. Physicians and patients alike benefit from having the prescription transmitted electronically and, beyond reducing risks, it is also a time saver.
Currently, e-prescriptions via EMR software are not used as often as they should be. Each year there are approximately 1.5 billion prescriptions in the United States. However, in 2007 only 2% of those prescriptions were e-prescribed according to the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association study. This study determined that there are tens of thousands of providers currently using e-prescriptions, but it is a small amount compared to the number of health care professionals who should be taking advantage of this technology. The study also determined that by 2017 more than 80% of prescriptions in the United States will be e-prescribed. As a result, millions of adverse drug effects will not occur in patients. In 2008 the number of prescriptions sent electronically jumped to 7%, according to Sure Scripts. The numbers are growing and as more health care professionals realize the benefits e-prescribing offers the numbers will grow even more.
There are thousands of individuals who will die as a result of a prescription error usually due to the prescription being illegible. There are other problems that occur and can cause prescription errors, too. These include not having records for previous medications, not providing enough information on drug/drug or drug/allergy interactions, as well as doctors and pharmacists not working together.
Electronic medical prescriptions reduce many different potential problems. Medical errors are reduced significantly, patient safety and quality of care are improved, paperwork is eliminated, patients’ medical histories can be tracked, time is saved, and efficiency is increased.
While healthcare professionals can benefit significantly by using electronic medical records and electronic prescriptions, many are initially concerned about making the change. But they shouldn’t be as newer EMR software can be implemented quickly and are easy to use.
Many EMR software systems are expected to be replaced over the next several years thanks to Federal stimulus money targeted for the implementation of electronic medical records systems in doctor’s practices and hospitals.
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