The Top 7 Benefits of ePrescribing

There is no role in healthcare responsible for only a single task. From front office and administrative staff to healthcare providers themselves, everyday involves juggling, and on good days balancing, multiple responsibilities. The ability to multi-task is virtually a required skill in the healthcare profession. 

That’s why your electronic prescribing software should also be an adept multi-tasker. You may think its only purpose is replacing your paper prescription pad, but that’s not necessarily true. Healthcare providers often tell patients there’s no “magic pill” to fix their problems, but the right ePrescription software may come close when it comes to addressing multiple challenges in healthcare.

Quick Links

• What is ePrescribing?
• How Do ePrescriptions Work?
• Top 5 Challenges to Implementing ePrescribing Solutions
• Top 7 Benefits of ePrescribing

What is ePrescribing?

The digitization of healthcare has come for the prescription pad. Traditional prescriptions, where a doctor has handwritten the medication, dosage, and instructions for a patient on special stationery, are rife with complications and challenges.

To start, unless a staff member calls or faxes it ahead, patients must physically bring the paper prescription to a pharmacy where it is filled. This is often time consuming and can be prone to errors, from illegible handwriting to lost prescriptions.

In contrast, ePrescribing converts the entire process into a seamless digital communication, directly from doctor to pharmacy. This process includes the creation of the prescription, transmission, receipt and filling of the prescription by the pharmacy. Because all information is handled digitally, it’s faster and more accurate–and those are just two of the benefits we’ll discuss.

How Do ePrescriptions and ePrescription Software Work?

First and foremost, to ePrescribe, you need ePrescription software. After entering all relevant patient and prescription information, the software instantly sends the prescription to the patient’s pharmacy. Once it arrives at the pharmacy, far more quickly than the patient can carry it to the pharmacy, pharmacists can begin preparing the medication.

It’s a pretty straightforward and simple process, but that doesn’t mean ePrescribing software simply oversees a HIPAA-compliant transmission of data. In fact, ePrescription software can do so much more, including:

• Integrating with existing practice software
• Identifying and alerting to interactions and contraindications
• Autofilling patient information to streamline and prevent duplicate entries
• Saving frequently-used prescriptions and pharmacies to speed up entries
• Connecting to a vast network of pharmacies
• Providing up-to-date drug directory with instant access
• Providing access to patient prescription history regardless of prescriber
• Securely prescribing from anywhere, on any device, with cloud flexibility

Ultimately, the right ePrescription software provides more than a seamless connection between your office and the pharmacy. It also facilitates more accurate, fast and easy prescriptions to deliver the care your patients need and deserve.

Top 5 Challenges to Implementing ePrescribing Solutions

Given the ability of ePrescribing solutions to speed up the process, reduce errors and facilitate better patient care, why are some practices still waiting to make the change? To start, there are a lot of potential solutions on the market and a lot of concerns that come with them, from security to integration. 

1. Regulatory Compliance: Federal and state regulations (including Medicare Part D requirements) are a significant challenge. Practices must find an ePrescribing solution that complies with HIPAA and the state’s EPCS regulations.
2. Integration with Existing Systems: No practice is looking to increase the steps required to deliver care, so ePrescribing solutions must integrate with existing practice management software. Integration can be daunting and technically challenging due to the variety of systems used by different healthcare providers and pharmacies.
3. Data Security and Privacy: Protecting sensitive patient information is paramount. ePrescribing solutions must implement robust security measures to prevent data breaches and ensure patient data privacy. 
4. Connectivity and Reliability: Reliable internet connectivity and system uptime are critical for the consistent use of ePrescribing solutions. Downtime, connectivity, or security issues that disrupt the prescribing process can lead to delays in patient care.
5. Cost and Return on Investment (ROI): Many practices worry about ROI when factoring in the initial cost of implementing an ePrescribing solution, including software, hardware, and training. However, the improved efficiency, reduced errors, and enhanced patient safety are factors that help justify the investment.

Individual practices may experience or incur additional challenges. Addressing these challenges involves a comprehensive approach that includes thorough planning, stakeholder collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement. By overcoming these obstacles, healthcare providers can realize the full benefits of ePrescribing solutions, including improved patient outcomes, increased efficiency, and enhanced safety.

Top 7 Benefits of ePrescribing

As we said earlier, ePrescribing with the right ePrescription software fulfills several roles to achieve several goals with one solution. Not only does it help your staff leverage technology to improve services, but ePrescribing boosts practice productivity and improves patient care. Here are seven key benefits to ditching your prescription pad.

1. Speed and ease (especially for your patients)

Manual prescriptions must be taken, or called in, to a pharmacy, then verified and cued up for filling. This can be time-consuming for your staff, pharmacists and patients. In worst-case scenarios, it can also delay care. With an ePrescription, the pharmacy has all the information it needs to correctly prepare the prescription before your patient even leaves your office.

2. Reduced errors and call backs

ePrescription software leads to fewer call backs from the pharmacy and, critically, helps prevent medication errors due to illegible handwriting or unclear prescriptions. While callbacks can add time to prescription fulfillment, errors are a bit more serious. In fact, experts estimate that, even today, nearly a quarter of medication errors are attributable to poor handwriting. ePrescriptions ensure that prescriptions are filled properly and accurately.

3. Fewer negative interactions/contraindications

For dentists in particular, when medicines prescribed by a primary care physician may be unknown (or a patient might forget to mention them), or there’s an allergy to a medication you’re prescribing, both your records and pharmacy records can flag the prescription, alerting you to a problem before the patient arrives at the pharmacy. Further, for patients in need of surgery or anesthesia, understanding drug interactions and potential problems prior to the administration is vital. 

4. Improved office efficiency and productivity

Tablets changed the ability for techs and other office staff to work as they moved, updating files from anywhere in the office rather than being tied to a desktop. ePrescriptions do the same for doctors and dentists. Instead of having to return to an office and remain tied to a desktop to complete work, ePrescriptions are just plain faster and can be handled on the fly, improving the workflow in your office. Staff can even stage the prescription for the doctor to quickly review and send.

Additionally, the ability to autofill patient data and save preferences for patients and pharmacies means you and your team can work faster with the technology doing much of the work for you.

5. Safer prescribing of controlled substances

The abuse of prescription drugs is a significant problem in the United States and, as a prescriber, the responsibility for safe prescriptions falls on you. Any tool at your disposal to assist in recognizing someone who may be prescription shopping is a tool you want on hand. If other providers are using ePrescription software, prescription information is available to any prescriber, regardless of the provider, that will flag duplicate prescriptions and let you know when you should be concerned about prescribing a controlled substance. 

6. Increased medication adherence and convenience 

For over a decade now, research has demonstrated that, with a direct line from the prescriber to the pharmacy, patients are more likely to fill prescriptions and adhere to medication regimens. Not only does this mean better patient outcomes, but the increased convenience that improves patient experience. 

7. Federal and state regulatory compliance

Both federal and state regulations require ePrescribing in certain circumstances, such as Medicare Part D or the prescribing of controlled substances. ePrescription software, especially one with integrated access to prescription drug monitoring programs, can ensure your practice stays compliant.

While it’s not a magic pill, nor can it help you prescribe one, ePrescribing is safer, faster, and more convenient for both your office and your patients. Improved workflows mean your office is more efficient, boosting patient care and satisfaction. Further, ePrescriptions improve accuracy and provide safety nets for drug concerns from interactions to potential abuse.

If you’re looking for an ePrescription software solution that provides these benefits, integrates with your existing practice software, and helps you leverage the flexibility of the cloud, book a demo of iCoreConnect’s iCoreRx and see why over 100 state dental and medical associations endorse our product.