Modern healthcare has leveraged innovative and robust technology solutions to enhance patient safety and care. One of the most historic advancements has been integrating e-Rx software within the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software System. This smooth integration facilitates electronic prescriptions and reduces errors associated with handwritten prescriptions.
What is an e-prescribing EMR Software System?
E-Prescribing (e-Rx) Software is a digital tool that allows healthcare providers to create, maintain, and electronically deliver prescription orders to pharmacies. This software works with an EMR system, which saves patient medical records, allowing clinicians to access a patient’s history, allergies, and other important information while prescribing prescriptions.
What are the Key Functionalities of e-prescribing EHR Software?
The following features in e-prescribing EMR Software empower healthcare providers to offer interconnected and safe care to patients, boosting health outcomes:
- Electronic Prescriptions
- Medication History
- Formula Checks
- Refill Requests
- Automatic Alerts for Potential Drug Interactions
- Compliance and Regulations
Drug Interactions in the United States
The issue of adverse drug reactions in the USA is a major concern. Studies have revealed that roughly 6.7% of hospitalized patients experience adverse drug reactions. Yearly, 106,000 deaths are caused in hospitalized patients from serious drug interactions.
How can e-prescribing EHR Software Reduce the Risk of Adverse Drug Interactions?
E-prescribing EMR software dramatically minimizes the likelihood of dangerous drug interactions by giving healthcare providers real-time access to a patient’s medication history. This includes current and previous prescriptions.
The software system has clinical decision support capabilities that automatically compare new prescriptions to the patient’s current drugs and allergies, identifying potential drug interactions, duplications, or contraindications. It can also alert the practitioner to pharmaceuticals that may interact negatively with the patient’s pre-existing diseases or other prescriptions. By incorporating these tests into the prescribing process, the program helps to avoid errors that could lead to adverse medication responses, resulting in safer, more informed prescribing decisions.
Main Benefits of Leveraging e-prescribing EHR Software
The following advantages can be reaped with an e-Rx software system:
- Swift medication process
- The possibility of any medication errors is reduced
- Improved patient safety
- Boosts health outcomes
- Enhanced prescription accuracy
- Better medication adherence in patients
- Instant allergy and drug interaction
Latest Trends in Electronic Prescriptions
Professionals in the healthcare industry need to keep track of the recent trends in electronic prescriptions to make the most out of the robust and convenient software system.
Key trends that are dominant:
- There has been an increase in the adoption of e-Rx EMR Software with over 80% of office-based physicians making use of e-prescribing software.
- According to a report by the ONC most Electronic Health Records (EHR) software offer e-prescribing software.
- A new survey from Black Book found that mobile access in e-prescribing is getting more popular with over 60% of providers using the software on their smartphones.
