How Is The Ehr Software Improving The Scope Of E-prescribing?

By Author: Emma Derek
Total Articles: 2
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The Electronic Heath Records (or EHR) software has brought forward a revolutionary change in the healthcare industry. The EHR technology came to the forefront when it was gradually becoming too taxing to manage bundles and bundles of paper records. From categorizing paper records to carrying them around, there was always the risk of them being damaged or lost in the process. With EHR in the picture, records of a patient’s treatment history are saved on the Cloud and can be accessed anytime and from anywhere. Using the EHR software, moreover, allows a user to take workflow benefits and incentive payments.

However, the EHR feature that made the biggest impact in 2013 was none of the above. According to Safe-Rx Rankings and the National Progress Report, it was seen that out of the 1.4 billion prescriptions created in 2013, 58% were done electronically. And if predictions are to be taken into account, then this rate will reach a level we could only imagine was possible.

But exactly how is EHR integration benefiting e-prescribing? Or rather, what is EHR’s role in improving its scope?

#1. Enhanced Efficiency

Perhaps ...
... the biggest benefit of using the EHR software has been the accuracy and precision it brings to the table. Among all the tools that are getting used in the healthcare industry, EHR has been able to show the highest levels of efficiency. While using EHR, doctors and pharmacists have been able to send and receive prescriptions with greater ease. The EHR also gives them tons of new options to improve their workflow. Moreover, there is the added advantage of never having to damage or lose the prescriptions.

#2. Improved Safety

From a doctor’s knowledge about the availability of a drug to deciphering his hard-to-comprehend handwriting, there have been numerous problems when it came to traditional prescriptions. Due to these safety issues, serious mishaps have happened frequently in the past. However, e-prescribing through EHR does not need handwritten notes, and it also gives a doctor complete knowledge about the market.

#3. Saves Patient’s Money

When creating e-prescriptions with EHR, doctors no longer have to rely on their knowledge about their preferred drugs. They have access to all the options available in the market. This means that a patient can get hold of a cheaper drug, a choice that was not available to him when doctors relied solely on their knowledge. With costs kept low all around, this process is effective in saving a patient’s money to a great extent.

#4. Less Time on the Phone

As pointed out earlier, pharmacists go through a tough time when it comes to deciphering a doctor’s handwritten prescription. As EHR completely negates handwritten notes from the picture, pharmacists can now spend less time on the phone talking to doctors, asking about the meaning of a certain sentence. And as time is getting saved in the process, it adds up to the total revenue.

Although e-prescribing using the EHR software has been more popular and convenient in private practices, hospitals and care-giving units have also started integrating them into their systems. As a result, the process of patient handling is becoming superior with every passing month. And it is a guarantee that the future of e-prescribing via EHR software is surely brighter with more improvements coming our way.