Maximizing ePrescribing Software: ePrescription Best Practices

ePrescribing software is no longer the new kid on the healthcare efficiency block. Though we’re seeing greater adoption, in part due to regulations requiring ePrescribing for both Medicare Part D and controlled substances, it’s time to consider whether healthcare practices are maximizing their ePrescribing solutions.

While not every ePrescribing solution is the same, there are functionality baselines and learning how to leverage those can have a significant impact on your practice and patients.

Quick Links:

• How ePrescribing Software Has Evolved
• Why Your Practice Needs ePrescribing Software
• Top ePrescribing Software Features
• Maximizing ePrescribing Software

How ePrescribing Software Has Evolved

Though adoption of ePrescribing software has increased in the last few years, it’s been around far longer. This evolution is worth examining to understand exactly how far the software has come since its early iterations.

The truth is that ePrescribing is a natural extension of the automations adopted early on by pharmacies themselves. However, while the goal was clear, to create digital replacements for traditional paper prescriptions, early ePrescribing systems were rudimentary and often plagued by limited functionality and usability challenges.

These initial versions struggled with integration issues, as they were typically stand-alone systems which could not integrate with other healthcare technologies, such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Additionally, there were concerns about data security and the accuracy of transmitted prescriptions, which hindered widespread adoption.

The initial challenges were substantial. Healthcare providers faced difficulty navigating clunky interfaces and pharmacies and, despite embracing other technologies, were skeptical of the reliability of electronically transmitted prescriptions. Further, regulatory and standardization issues created additional barriers. For example, despite the availability of Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS), the DEA did not initially permit ePrescribing for controlled substances, limiting the scope of ePrescribing. 

However, the landscape of ePrescribing began to transform with advancements in technology and regulatory frameworks. The integration of ePrescribing with EHRs and Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) significantly enhanced functionality and interoperability.

Similarly, improved user interfaces, robust security measures, and the establishment of standards, such as the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) SCRIPT,   contributed to greater reliability and ease of use. Then, the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and subsequent federal incentives further accelerated the adoption of ePrescribing by promoting electronic healthcare solutions.

These changes in the healthcare landscape, in many ways, pushed ePrescribing software to evolve into a sophisticated, integral component of modern healthcare delivery. In fact, current ePrescribing software offers comprehensive features including clinical decision support and medication history tracking.

In addition to those features, enhanced security protocols help ensure patient data is secure, while seamless integration with EHRs facilitates coordinated care and reduces medication errors. Modern ePrescribing software not only streamlines the prescription process but also significantly contributes to improving patient safety, medication adherence, and overall healthcare efficiency.

Why Your Practice Needs ePrescribing Software

So many aspects of patient care rely upon medication adherence and prescription protocols. That ePrescribing helps remove barriers to medication adherence means the adoption of ePrescribing software is no longer a luxury but a necessity for any modern healthcare practice.

The transition from paper prescriptions to electronic prescribing systems offers numerous benefits that enhance both the efficiency and quality of patient care. One of the primary advantages is the significant reduction in medication errors. Medication errors due to illegible handwritten prescriptions can lead to dangerous mistakes. 

Similarly, the need to make calls to clarify dosages and more can be time-consuming for both pharmacists and practices. ePrescribing software eliminates this risk by providing clear, typed prescriptions that ensure accurate communication between healthcare providers and pharmacies.

Additionally, ePrescribing software streamlines the entire prescribing process, saving valuable time for healthcare professionals. With just a few clicks, prescriptions can be sent directly to a patient's preferred pharmacy, reducing the need for manual entries and minimizing the risk of errors associated with transcribing prescriptions.

And, it’s not just the prescription delivery process that’s sped up. In fact, with autofill features and integrated medication directory resources built-in, most ePrescribing software speeds up the prescribing process for providers.

Plus, ePrescribing software often includes built-in functionality to cross-check medication allergies and contraindications to prevent dangerous reactions.

This enhanced prescribing efficiency not only speeds up the healthcare workflow but also enhances patient experience by reducing wait times at pharmacies. Furthermore, features such as medication history checks and real-time benefits verification enable providers to make informed decisions quickly, ensuring patients receive the most appropriate and cost-effective treatments.

Moreover, ePrescribing software enhances the security and regulatory compliance of your practice. Advanced security features protect sensitive patient information, adhering to stringent regulations including HIPAA.

The ability to electronically prescribe controlled substances (EPCS), in accordance with state laws and prescription drug monitoring programs, with secure authentication methods also ensures compliance with DEA requirements, allowing your practice to handle a broader range of prescriptions safely and legally.

Top ePrescribing Software Features

Much like any software solution, not all ePrescribing software is created equally. For example, some ePrescription software doesn’t include access to pharmaceutical references which can create additional bottlenecks.

However, when choosing your ePrescribing software, you’ll want to look for a few key features, some of which are standard, some of which are not: 

• Integration with EHR Systems - Seamless communication and data sharing between the ePrescribing software and EHR systems to ensure accurate and up-to-date patient information.
• Clinical Decision Support - Real-time alerts and suggestions to help healthcare providers make informed prescribing decisions, including drug interactions, allergies, and contraindications.
• Medication History Tracking - Comprehensive access to a patient’s medication history to prevent duplications and ensure continuity of care.
• Real-Time Benefits Verification - Instant checks on patient insurance coverage and medication costs to provide cost-effective prescribing options.
• Electronic Prior Authorization - Streamlined process for obtaining insurance approvals for medications that require prior authorization, reducing delays and administrative burdens.
• EPCS and State PDMP integration - Secure and compliant electronic prescribing of controlled substances, meeting DEA and state regulations.
• Patient-Specific Dosing Recommendations - Tailored dosing recommendations based on patient-specific factors such as age, weight, and renal function.
• Insurance Compliance - Ensures prescriptions are aligned with insurance formularies, promoting cost-effective and covered medication choices.
• Refill Management - Simplifies the process of managing prescription refills, including automatic reminders and refill requests.
• Drug Interaction and Allergy Alerts - Immediate alerts for potential drug interactions and known allergies to enhance patient safety.
• Secure Messaging and Communication - Encrypted messaging capabilities for secure communication between healthcare providers and pharmacies.
• Audit Trails and Reporting - Detailed logs and reports of all prescribing activities for transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance.
• Mobile Accessibility - Access to ePrescribing features via mobile devices, allowing for flexibility and convenience so providers can write prescriptions on-the-fly.
• Customizable Templates - Predefined and customizable prescription templates to streamline the prescribing process for commonly prescribed medications.
• Remote Prescription Cancellation - Ability to cancel prescriptions remotely if needed, ensuring patients do not receive medications that are no longer necessary or safe.
• Pharmacy Directory - Comprehensive directory of pharmacies to facilitate direct transmission of prescriptions to the patient’s preferred location.
• Adherence Monitoring Tools - Tools to track and improve patient adherence to prescribed medications, including reminders and follow-up alerts.

With these features, ePrescribing software can greatly enhance the efficiency, safety, and quality of the prescribing process in any healthcare practice.

Maximizing ePrescribing Software

To fully leverage the benefits of ePrescribing software, healthcare practices need to adopt strategic approaches that maximize their ePrescribing software, enhance its functionality, and allow full integration into daily workflows. 

Conduct Regular Training

Perhaps one of the most important strategies is to conduct comprehensive staff training. Ensuring all healthcare providers and supporting staff are thoroughly trained in using the ePrescribing system is crucial to maximizing its utilization. It’s great to have tools around, but if your staff doesn’t know what it can do or how to use it, you certainly won’t get the most out of it.

In other words, comprehensive training includes understanding the software’s features, navigating its interface, and utilizing its advanced capabilities such as clinical decision support.

Regular training sessions and updates can help staff stay proficient and adapt to any new features or updates in the software. Finding a solution provider who offers comprehensive and ongoing support and training is, for this reason, essential.

Integrate with EHRs

Another effective strategy is to ensure providers integrate ePrescribing with other healthcare systems within your practice. Seamless integration with EHRs and practice management systems can significantly improve the efficiency of data flow and reduce the likelihood of errors.

While some ePrescribing solutions are standalone software, a unified system, healthcare providers can access comprehensive patient information, including medication history and insurance details, in real-time. This holistic view enables better-informed prescribing decisions and enhances overall patient care.

Enable Customization

Another step in maximizing functionality is customizing ePrescribing workflows to match the specific needs of your practice. Tailoring templates, alerts, and default settings to fit the practice’s most common scenarios can streamline the prescribing process and reduce time spent on each prescription. For instance, setting up formulary compliance checks and preferred pharmacy networks can ensure prescriptions are both cost-effective and convenient for patients.

Identify Patterns to Improve Performance

Moreover, leveraging the software’s reporting and analytics features can provide valuable insights into prescribing patterns and practice performance. Regularly reviewing these reports can help identify areas for improvement, such as frequent prescription errors or delays in the prescribing process. Practices can use this data to implement targeted interventions, improve patient outcomes, and optimize operational efficiency.

Finally, leveraging features such as electronic refill requests can improve medication adherence and patient satisfaction. 

Ultimately, maximizing the potential of ePrescribing software involves a multifaceted approach that includes thorough staff training, system integration, workflow customization, data-driven improvements, and patient engagement. These strategies can help ensure healthcare practices get the most out of their ePrescribing software, leading to enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and patient care.

If you’re ready to demo a robust, feature rich ePrescribing solution that integrates with your existing practice management software, book a demo for iCoreRX, part of the iCoreEnterprise platform. One solution can help boost efficiency, efficacy, safety, and patient outcomes– iCore solutions are designed specifically for healthcare so you can leverage our tools and focus on patient care.