How EMR Software and Electronic Prescriptions Work Together
By: Julia Aidan
Submitted: 2011-04-11 03:01:04 | Word Count: 421
EMR Software and electronic prescriptions are beneficial to doctors and patient's alike. When the prescriber provides the prescription electronically to the pharmacy discrepancies are reduced significantly and the quality of patient care skyrockets. There is little room for error when the prescription is raised electronically and the patient is highly benefited.
Presently, e-prescriptions via EMR software are not used as often as they should be. In USA alone 1.5 billion prescriptions are given by doctors every year. Nevertheless, in 2007 only 2% of those prescriptions were e-prescribed according to the Gorman Health Group for 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 probably be e-prescribed. As a result, millions of adverse drug effects will not occur in patients. In 2008 the total number of prescriptions sent electronically has jumped to 7%, according to Sure Scripts. The use of e-prescription is on the rise and is expected to grow more.
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For example, there are thousands of persons will die as a result of a prescription error usually due to the prescription being unreadable. There are other problems that occur and can cause prescription errors. For instance , 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 in concert.
Electronic medical prescriptions (also known as e-prescriptions or e-prescribing) reduce many different potential problems. Medical errors are decreased significantly, patient safety and quality of care are upgraded, paperwork is eradicated, patients' medical histories can be racked, saves time, increases performance, and many other advantages.
While healthcare professionals can benefit significantly by using electronic medical records software and e-prescriptions many are initially concerned about making the change. As a result, providers who use this EMR software will start to receive EMR incentive payments from Medicare through 2014. The higher incentives are for 2010 and then will drop in 2011 and 2012 and then again in 2013. The goal is to encourage healthcare providers to go ahead and make the modification now, rather than later.
Author Resource:-EHR software helps improve medical practice efficiency and increase focus on patient care. EHR software systems are now considered a necessity by most doctors and hospitals
