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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic prescribing | 1/5 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_prescribing | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T07:28:22.279053+00:00 | kb-cron |
Electronic prescription (e-prescribing or e-Rx) is the computer-based electronic generation, transmission, and filling of a medical prescription, taking the place of paper and faxed prescriptions. E-prescribing allows a physician, physician assistant, pharmacist, or nurse practitioner to use digital prescription software to electronically transmit a new prescription or renewal authorization to a community or mail-order pharmacy. It outlines the ability to send error-free, accurate, and understandable prescriptions electronically from the healthcare provider to the pharmacy. E-prescribing is meant to reduce the risks associated with traditional prescription script writing. It is also one of the major reasons for the push for electronic medical records. By sharing medical prescription information, e-prescribing seeks to connect the patient's team of healthcare providers to facilitate knowledgeable decision making.
== Functions == An e-prescribing system used in the United States must be capable of performing all of the following functions:
Patient's identification Generating a complete active medication list, possibly incorporating electronic data received from an insurance provider Access to patient historical data Prescribe or add new medication and select the pharmacy where the prescription will be filled. Work with an existing medication within the practice, this can involve viewing details of a medication, remove a medication from the active medication list, change dose, etc., for a medication or renew one or more medications Printing prescriptions Electronically transmitting prescriptions to a transaction hub Conducting all safety checks using an integrated decision support system, known as a Drug Utilization Review. Safety checks include: automated prompts that offer information on the drug being prescribed, potential inappropriate dose or route of administration, drug-drug interactions, allergy concerns, or warnings of caution Flagging availability of lower cost, therapeutically appropriate alternatives (if any) Providing information on formulary or tiered formulary medications, patient eligibility, and authorization requirements received electronically from the patient's insurance provider System integration capabilities (e.g., connection with various databases, connection with pharmacy and pharmacy benefit manager systems) Educational capabilities (e.g., patient education, provider feedback)
== Model ==
The basic components of an electronic prescribing system are the:
Prescriber - typically a physician Transaction hub Pharmacy with implemented electronic prescribing software Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) The PBM and transaction hub work closely together. The PBM works as an intermediate actor to ensure the accuracy of information, although other models may not include this to streamline the communication process. In addition to pharmacies, medical tests can also be prescribed.
=== Prescriber === The prescriber, generally a clinician or healthcare staff, is defined as the electronic prescribing system user and sign into the system through a verification process to authenticate their identity. The prescriber searches through the database of patient records by using patient-specific information such as first and last name, date of birth, current address etc. Once the correct patient file has been accessed, the prescriber reviews the current medical information and uploads or updates new prescription information to the medical file.
=== Transaction hub === The transaction hub provides the common link between all actors (prescriber, pharmacy benefit manager, and pharmacy). It stores and maintains a master patient index for quick access to their medical information as well as a list of pharmacies. When the prescriber uploads new prescription information to the patient file, this is sent to the transaction hub. The transaction hub will verify against the patient index. This will automatically send information about this transaction to the PBM, who will respond to the hub with information on patient eligibility, formulary, and medication history back to the transaction hub. The transaction hub then sends this information to the prescriber to improve patient management and care by completing and authorizing the prescription. Upon which, the prescription information is sent to the pharmacy that the patient primarily goes to.
=== Pharmacy === When a pharmacy receives the prescription information from the transaction hub, it will send a confirmation message. The pharmacy also has the ability to communicate to the prescriber that the prescription order has been filled through the system. Further system development will soon allow different messages such as a patient not picking up their medication or is late to pick up medication to improve patient management.
=== Imaging === When an imaging center receives the prescription, the imaging center will then contact the patient and schedule the patient for his/her scan. The advantage of e-prescribing radiology is that often when a patient is handed a paper script, the patient will lose the prescription or wait to call and schedule. This can be disastrous for patients with severe underlying conditions. The imaging center will call and schedule the patient as soon as the referral arrives. There are mobile ePrescribing portals as well as web portals that handle this well, and there are advantages.
== Benefits == Compared to paper-based prescribing, e-prescribing can improve health and reduce costs because it can:
Reduce prescribing and dispensing errors Decrease the work needed to execute a prescription Speed receipt of prescribed drugs Avoid more adverse drug interactions and reactions More reliably offer to substitute less expensive drug alternatives by checking the formulary of the insurance provider in the doctor's office Improve medication compliance (taking the prescribed medications on time) by reducing lost and unfilled prescriptions and minimizing patient costs Reduce the incidence of drug diversion (drug abuse) by alerting providers and pharmacists of duplicative prescriptions for controlled substances. Safety improvements are highly desirable; in 2000, the Institute of Medicine identified medication errors as the most common type of medical error in health care, estimating that this leads to several thousand deaths each year.