What is e-Prescribing?
E-Prescribing, or electronic prescribing, is the method of electronically sending a prescription to a pharmacy using software on a computer or other electronic device, such as a tablet or smartphone. This replaces the need to handwrite, fax, or phone in prescriptions.
Medication management and prescribing workflows are greatly improved by e-Prescribing. Most e-Prescribng systems allows providers to:
- Access a patient's prescription history
- Access a patient's prescription benefit information
- Electronically send a patient's prescription to their chosen pharmacy and receive e-refill requests
How Does e-Prescribing Work?
e-Prescribing is driven by software which is used to electronically send a prescription to a pharmacy. When a patient is seen by a prescriber, the prescriber can use their e-Prescribing (eRx) software from a computer or handheld device to write and send a prescription. The eRx software then routes the prescription through a hub, such as Surescripts ®, and then on to the pharmacy. It is sent just as quickly as sending an e-mail, and often times prescriptions are ready and waiting for the patient before they even arrive at the pharmacy.
e-Prescribing software also allows for the pharmacy to electronically send a refill request to the prescriber. This is the same process as a new prescription, only reversed. The pharmacy requests a refill which is routed through a hub and then can be seen and responded to by the prescriber in their eRx software.
An added benefit of using fully certified e-Prescribing software is that prescribers can access the patient’s eligibility, formulary, and prescription history information. This information is sent from the PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) or your state PDMP, usually through a hub, and can then be seen in the e-Prescribing software at the time of prescribing.
How Does e-Prescribing Benefit Providers?
- Lower costs - Streamline your workflow over hand scripts
- Access to a complete drug database
- On hand tools such as interaction alerts, real-time pricing comparisons, dosing calculators
- Secure prescribing - eliminates stolen prescription pads and patient altered paper prescriptions
Faster workflows
- Less time spent on the phone/fax with pharmacies
- Ability to save lists of favorite prescriptions so that they may be quickly prescribed in the future
- Electronically respond to both change and refill requests quickly and easily
How Does e-Prescribing Benefit Patients?
- Shorter pharmacy wait times
- Lower prescription costs - prescribers can access a patient’s eligibility and formulary information and pick the prescription with the lowest price
- Compliance - patients are more likely to pick up a prescription that has been e-sent than a paper prescription
- Education Materials - providers can email or print out drug leaflets for patients
Increased safety
- Reduced errors due to illegible handwriting
- Alerts for dangerous drug interactions - providers can access the patient's prescription history and avoid adverse interactions
- Dosing recommendations and alerts based on patient's age and body weight