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Investigation confirms benefits of e-prescribing
02.02.2012
With mandates coming from the federal government, a growing number of physicians are beginning to use e-prescribing systems. New evidence suggests that this trend may have positive effects on patient safety, as a recent study indicates use of e-prescribing technology is associated with fewer medical errors.Researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia said that governments in countries around the world are implementing programs mandating the use of e-prescribing. The technology is widely viewed as the future of prescribing. Despite the rosy outlook, there is relatively little actual evidence on the benefits of e-prescribing.
To gauge the effect of using e-prescribing systems, the researchers analyzed clinical data from two hospitals that implemented the technology on some of their wards. The team looked at the number of clinical errors, incomplete or unclear drug orders and incorrect drug or dosing orders from each ward before and after they implemented their systems.
The results showed a major reduction in errors among those that made the transition to an electronic system. Error rates dropped by between 58 and 66 percent in wards that implemented e-prescribing systems.
The researchers said their findings provide strong rationale for countries that are pursuing mandates for the use e-prescribing systems, a group that includes the U.S.
In 2009, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began offering incentives for physicians who use e-prescribing. Providers can earn bonus payments of up to 2 percent for electronically sending the prescriptions of at least 50 percent of their Medicare patients. However, this incentive will turn into penalties in 2012, with physicians facing up to a 1 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursements if they fail to implement an e-prescribing system.
Categories: Patient Safety
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