OnSiteClinics.Org

Can e-prescriptions really improve quality?

In a study led by physicians at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, it seems like the answer is a resounding “yes”.   The study,  published in the online edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine on Friday (February 26, 2010), reviewed more than 3,000 prescriptions both pre- and post-study from two groups of physicians in the Hudson Valley region of NY (15 physicians used e-prescribing tools and 15 wrote the prescriptions by hand).   To me, one of the most amazing findings was that the error rate for those using e-prescribing technology fell from 42.5% before implementation of the technology to a mere 6.6% afterwards.  For those handwriting their scripts, the error  rate actually increased slightly from 37.3% to 38.4%.  It should be noted that only a small number of the errors (both before and after the technology was introduced) were serious, most were mistakes like not giving complete medication directions. 

It was also found that in order to use e-prescribing efficiently and effectively solid technical support and a program designed to work easily and intuitively by physicians is a must.  So, choose your vendor carefully.