Knowledge Center

E-prescribing Advice

Jennie Chiller's picture

Should i start e-prescribing during the earlier or latter part of my EHR implementation?

Answers

Antonia Ross's picture

I agree that early is preferable.  It will decrease the number of phone calls and faxes for prescription refills, and staff should see an immediate benefit.  It is easy to master.  Additionally, the current medication list begins to populate the EMR so that when the providers go Live, this data will already be there.

David Gorelick's picture

Earlier without question.  We took the dive and did as much as we could earlier in the implementation.  We set up ePrescribing, electronic lab and imaging interfaces and organized the EMR in many ways to achieve improved efficiency.  There are many that advocate implementing in bits and pieces over time - that sounds reasonable for those that want to take things slow.  I figure that we are going to do the work anyway, why not tighten the belt, put on the coffee and get as much done at the start as you can.  You are computerizing to achieve efficiency, you might as well implement as much as you can as quickly as you can and achieve that effiency sooner rather than later.

Charles Eaton's picture

I totally agree. This has been one of best features of having an EHR from the physician's and nursing staff's perspectives.

Jerry Fingerut's picture

I would strongly advise starting e prescribing as soon as possible. it is an easy feature to use, will avoid duplicate charting, permit early use of refill features and immediately enhance the benefit of EMR use.