NEJM Perspective Examines Increasing Use Of E-Prescribing Among U.S. Physicians, Pharmacies

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist;  IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 11 Jul 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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The hand-written prescription is "on its way to becoming a historical curiosity," as physicians and pharmacies increasingly adopt electronic prescribing systems, according to a New England Journal of Medicine article by Richard Steinbrook, a physician and the national correspondent for NEJM, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. According to Steinbrook, as of March this year, about 7% of the 560,400 office-based physicians were regularly writing e-prescriptions and about 73% of the 57,500 retail pharmacies in the U.S. were regularly receiving them. Physicians and pharmacies are being motivated to adopt the technology by the promise of fewer prescribing errors and the possibility of e-prescribing mandates.

About 2% of all prescriptions nationwide are relayed electronically, the Star-Ledger reports. Steinbrook said, "With any new technology, it takes a period of time for it to be adopted, and some people would rather let others work out the bugs." He added that there are barriers to the adoption of such technology, including high start-up costs and Drug Enforcement Agency restrictions on e-prescribing of controlled substances. DEA is considering lifting the ban. However, Steinbrook said that some physicians "aren't moving until they can do everything electronically" (Stewart, Newark Star-Ledger, 7/10).

The article is available online.

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