AMA Works To Advance E-prescribing

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 12 May 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The American Medical Association highlighted its support for electronic prescribing, and outlined key steps to move forward with broader adoption of e-prescribing at a meeting with stakeholders held at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. AMA board member and emergency physician Steven Stack, MD discussed the AMA's work to address adoption barriers among physicians, and the important role e-prescribing will play in transforming health care.

"The AMA supports efforts to advance e-prescribing adoption among physicians," said Dr. Stack. "E-prescribing can serve as a means to improve patient safety, enhance care coordination among health care providers, and reduce administrative burdens that take physicians away from patients."

The AMA has reached out to physicians across the country to better understand the challenges that must be addressed to facilitate rapid, widespread adoption of e-prescribing by physicians.

"Every day more physicians across the country are using e-prescribing or are in the process of implementing the technology," said Dr. Stack. "To help more physicians take advantage of e-prescribing, financial incentives are needed to offset the costs of implementation."

The AMA supports a national framework that includes a uniform set of e-prescribing standards and a transitional period for physicians to adopt the technology.

"Any e-prescribing requirement that triggers potential penalties should be deferred until two years after final standards are in place," said Dr. Stack. "This will allow physicians to acquire and implement e-prescribing tools and train their staff."

"Health care leaders must work together to ensure the infrastructure is fully prepared to advance e-prescribing," said Dr. Stack. "The AMA will continue to work to promote the widespread adoption of e-prescribing in a manner benefiting all relevant stakeholders, particularly America's patients."

American Medical Association