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| Electronic prescribing, or e-prescribing, is fast becoming a standard among healthcare organizations. Consider this streamlined process: After consulting with a patient, the physician uses an eRx application to "write" the prescription using an HP Tablet PC or an HP iPAQ. The e-prescribing application automatically checks the other drugs the patient is taking for possible interactions. The physician can electronically send the prescription to the patient's pharmacy of choice-all with a few clicks. |
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| The e-prescription can be received by participating pharmacies as an email or as a fax. Either way, the pharmacist receives the information in a legible format minimizing the risk for errors. The electronic script can automatically be checked for potential errors, such as an inconsistency in the prescribed dosage, or duplicate therapies. And since formularies have already been confirmed, the process of billing is streamlined. |
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| E-prescribing has clear advantages over traditional prescription writing--and the government agrees. With the Medicare Modernization Act of 2004 (MMA), the government has mandated deployment of a nationwide e-prescribing pilot program starting in January of 2008. And beginning in 2009, the MMA will also mandate e-prescribing for drug plans participating in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit program. Essentially, the federal government is using regulation to phase out non-electronic prescriptions. Some healthcare organizations have already moved to a complete e-prescription system well in advance of the government deadlines. Read more about the benefits of e-prescribing. |
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| To implement e-prescribing in your own healthcare organization, begin by evaluating a variety of e-prescription systems from different vendors. Some vendors provide an end-to-end solution hosted on their network, while some provide software solutions that require you to do the hosting. Determine which system will best fit your needs and budget. |
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| Besides the e-prescription software or service you'll be using, you'll need to have the technology infrastructure to support that system. Your technology components may include: |
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Wireless networking equipment. Doctors and other staff should be able to access the e-prescription system anywhere in the facility. See HP wireless networking products. |
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Server and/or storage devices to run the e-prescription system and back up prescription data. See HP servers, HP storage systems or virtual backup service information. |
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Devices to access the e-prescription system. These include desktops, notebooks, Tablet PCs, and handheld computers, as well as networked and wireless printers The Tablet PC and handheld PCs are especially well-suited for e-prescribing because they offer quick pen based data entry. Wireless printers offer easy methods of giving a patient a hard copy of the prescription or drug information on the spot. See HP printers, desktops, Tablet PCs, notebooks or handheld PCs. |
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| Note: HP offers a discount program for savings up to 10% for health professionals. Learn more before you purchase. |
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Set up your network to support e-prescribing. This may mean adding wireless capabilities as well as handheld PCs, Tablet PCs and/or notebooks to enable e-prescribing in exam rooms and other areas. |
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Install e-prescribing software. |
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Train your staff on using the software and provide ongoing support. It may take everyone some trial and error time to gain expertise with the program. |
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The benefits of e-prescribing |
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| The move to electronic prescriptions is fueled by many strongly persuasive factors. Advocates of e-prescribing say it provides better efficiency, better reliability and can be used remotely via wireless providing more flexibility. In today's litigious culture, e-prescribing also provides peace of mind since it generates an electronic trail to show exactly what was ordered, where and when. E-prescribing allows providers to obtain a clearer picture of treatments, and perform several functions at once, saving you and your staff time. Refills can be automated and multiple prescriptions can be filled or refilled simultaneously. |
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| Patient safety is the number one reason cited by many for going to e-prescribing, followed quickly by cost-savings. The legibility of physician handwriting is an often told joke-but no joke to the patients on the receiving end of prescription errors. Mistakes from illegible handwritten prescriptions and drug interactions are costly and dangerous. |
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| With e-prescribing, providers can gain more patient time and save on costs: |
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Fewer call backs from the pharmacists questioning prescribing information. |
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Fewer phone calls about refills. |
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Fewer patient calls and less telephone time with patients and health plans regarding prescriptions. |
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Automated drug interaction checking, adding significantly to patient safety. |
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