Electronic Prescribing Disadvantages

658 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: E-prescribing function for medications

In today's world, where technology is constantly and rapidly growing, the use of electronic prescribing systems is increasing. An electronic prescribing system, also known as e-prescribing, allows the health care provider to authorize an electronic transmission of one or more prescriptions to a pharmacy. There are, however, challenges presented with e-prescribing such as incorrect medication doses and the adoption of the system in a few health care fields. This two-way transmission of electronic prescribing can increase the quality of patient care, advance patient safety and decrease medication errors. Introduction The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) Of 2003 provisions of Part D required a plan that supports an "electronic prescription program," where providers and pharmacies voluntarily choose to do e-prescribing. "This program is required to provide for the electronic transmittal of the following specific types of information among …show more content…

Electronic prescribing systems that contain information on the patient's history including disease and drug factors allow the decision support for dosing. Yet, "prescribers are more likely to accept alerts if they are relevant to the specific prescribing situation and they are not distracted by indiscriminate alerts. However, many systems do not contain all of the data required. Excessive overriding of decision support messages leads to alert fatigue and erodes confidence in the system and makes it more likely that subsequent relevant alerts will be ignored" (Coleman, Nwulu & Ferner, 2012). Some of the other challenges that are experienced are the adoption of electronic prescribing systems in "primary care settings, including unrealistic expectations among users, inadequate technical support, and poor functioning of the technical infrastructure for e-prescribing" (Crosson et al.,

Show More
Related

  • Impact Of Bar-Code Medication Administration (BCMA)

    167 Words  | 1 Pages

    I am truly amazed by the positive impact of bar-code medication administration (BCMA). Since we have a fully integrated electronic health record, it is a true closed loop-system, with medication order entry, pharmacy validation of medications, and clinical decision support. Implementing technology such as BCMA is an efficient way to improve positive identification of both the patient and medication prior to administration. It is estimated that the bar-code medication charting can reduce medication errors by 58% (Jones & Treiber, 2010). Even though we have good adoption of BCMA, nurses still make drug administration errors. In many of the cases, errors are caused by nurses, because they do not validate and verify. The integration of technology

    Read More

  • Health Informatics: Improving Health Care In Canada

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    Introduction “Health informatics is the science that underlies the academic investigation and practical application of computing and communications technology to healthcare, health education and biomedical research” (UofV, 2012). This broad area of inquiry incorporates the design and optimization of information systems that support clinical practice, public health and research; understanding and optimizing the way in which biomedical data and information systems are used for decision-making; and using communications and computing technology to better educate healthcare providers, researchers and consumers. Although there are many benefits of bringing in electronic health systems there are glaring issues that associate with these systems. The

    Read More

  • Electronic Health Records Pros And Cons Essay

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    This technology assist the nurse in confirming patients identify by confirming the patients’ dose, time and form of medication (Helmons, Wargel, & Daniels, 2009). Having an EHR also comes with a program that allows the medical staff to scan medications so medication errors can be prevented. According to Helmons, Wargel, and Daniels (2009) they conducted an observational study in two medical –surgical units one in the medical intensive care (ICU) and one in the surgical ICU. The researchers watched 386 nurses within the two hospitals use bar code scanning before they administrated patients’ medications. The results of the research found a 58 % decrease in medication errors between the two hospitals because of the EHR containing a bar code assisted medication administration

    Read More

  • Medication Reconciliation

    170 Words  | 1 Pages

    According to Accuracy at Every Step: The Challenge of Medication Reconciliation (n.d.), the most challenge is called medication reconciliation, which is a formal steps of gathering information related to the patient’s medication with accurate current medication list and compared to the doctor’s admission, transfer and discharge orders. Its aim is to prevent medication errors. There are three steps process- Verification (gather medication history), Clarification (confirm the medication with doses, properly) and Reconciliation (documenting with medication information). This challenge is important to obtain accurate information on all patients entering the hospital. Information technology may play an important role in improving

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Medicare Part D

    1538 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 2006, prescription drug coverage, Medicare Part D became available under Medicare for the first time. In 40 years of history, this program is the most significant change in government health care, offering the potential for improved access to required medications for millions of Americans (Improving the Medicare Part D Program for the Most Vulnerable Beneficiaries, n.d.). The

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Electronic Prescriptions

    2265 Words  | 5 Pages

    Electronic prescribing or known as e-prescribing is the transmission, using electronic media, of prescriptions or prescription-related information from a prescriber (physician, nurse practitioner, etc.) to a pharmacy (Fincham, 2009). The information may flow to a number of parties in addition to the pharmacy, such as a pharmacy benefit manager, health plan, or an intermediary, such as an e-prescribing network (a large centralized system to process electronic prescriptions)(Bloche, 2011). In its simplest form, e-prescribing involves two-way transmissions between the point of care and the pharmacy. E-prescribing is intended to replace writing out, faxing, or calling in prescriptions, and its many proposed benefits include safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective care (Fincham,2009). Because of potential benefits, the federal government has put in place major incentives for providers to adopt e-prescribing and to adopt electronic health records through the meaningful use incentives (Sanders & Buchanan, 2012). But in today’s world where technology is growing rapidly in the healthcare, medication errors through e-prescribing is not getting any better. Medication errors are one of the most common types of medical errors and one of the most common and preventable caus...

    Read More

  • Pharmacy Technicians

    996 Words  | 2 Pages

    medications is more than the act of getting drugs to a patient. The delivery of medication is directly tied to the charge for the medication. Thus the responsibility for charging or crediting medication belongs to technicians. This aspect of their job is strictly governed by federal regulations. These laws hold the technician directly responsible for the accuracy of a patient’s account’s charge and credit transactions. Because every dose is related to a specific day and time, when technicians credit they must apply that change to the corresponding dose. Assignificant as accuracy is to the patient’s account, accuracy in the making of their medications is even more important.

    Read More

  • Medication Errors Research Paper

    1145 Words  | 3 Pages

    Some method such as audits, chart reviews, computer monitoring, incident report, bar codes and direct patient observation can improve and decrease medication errors. Regular audits can help patient’s care and reeducate nurses in the work field to new practices. Also reporting of medication errors can help with data comparison and is a learning experience for everyone. Other avenues that has been implemented are computerized physician order entry systems or electronic prescribing (a process of electronic entry of a doctor’s instructions for the treatment of patients under his/her care which communicates these orders over a computer network to other staff or departments) responsible for fulfilling the order, and ward pharmacists can be more diligence on the prescription stage of the medication pathway. A random survey was done in hospital pharmacies on medication error documentation and actions taken against pharmacists involved. A total of 500 hospital were selected in the United States. Data collected on the number of medication error reported, what types of errors were documented and the hospital demographics. The response rate was a total of 28%. Practically, all of the hospitals had policies and procedures in place for reporting medication errors.

    Read More

  • Health Care IT and Quality Health Care

    1126 Words  | 3 Pages

    Unfortunately, the quality of health care in America is flawed. Information technology (IT) offers the potential to address the industry’s most pressing dilemmas: care fragmentation, medical errors, and rising costs. The leading example of this is the electronic health record (EHR). An EHR, as explained by HealthIT.gov (n.d.), is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. It includes, but is not limited to, medical history, diagnoses, medications, and treatment plans. The EHR, then, serves as a resource that aids clinicians in decision-making by providing comprehensive patient information.

    Read More

  • Electronic Medication Administration Essay

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    Implementing technology in a clinical setting is not easy and cannot be successful without a well-organized system. It is important that healthcare providers understand the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) and its role in improving patient safety. One of the most significant aspects of healthcare is the safety of our patients. Medication errors account for 44,000-98,000 deaths per year, more deaths than those caused by highway accidents or breast cancer. Several health information technologies help to reduce the number of medication errors that occur. Once of these technologies is bar-code-assisted medication administration (BCMA). These systems are designed to ensure that the right drug is being administered via the right

    Read More

  • How Technology Can Aid Patient Safety During The Medication Administration Process

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    Administration of medication is a vital part of the clinical nursing practice however in turn has great potential in producing medication errors (Athanasakis 2012). It has been reported that over 7,000 deaths have occur per year related to medications errors within the US (Flynn, Liang, Dickson, Xie, & Suh, 2012). A patient in the hospital may be exposed to at least one error a day that could have been prevented (Flynn, Liang, Dickson, Xie, & Suh, 2012). Working in a professional nursing practice setting, the primary goal is the nurse and staff places the patient first and provides the upmost quality care with significance on safety. There are several different types of technology that can be used to improve the medication process and will aid staff in reaching a higher level of care involving patient safety. One tool that can and should be utilized in preventing medication errors is barcode technology. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how implementing technology can aid patient safety during the medication administration process.

    Read More

  • Electronic Health Records: Annotated Bibliography

    1502 Words  | 4 Pages

    This paper will identify the use of Electronic Health Records and how nursing plays an important role. Emerging in the early 2000’s, utilizing Electronic Health Records have quickly become a part of normal practice. An EHR could help prevent dangerous medical mistakes, decrease in medical costs, and an overall improvement in medical care. Patients are often taking multiple medications, forget to mention important procedures/diagnoses to providers, and at times fail to follow up with providers. Maintaining an EHR could help tack data, identify patients who are due for preventative screenings and visits, monitor VS, & improve overall quality of care in a practice. Nurse informaticists play an important role in the adaptation, utilization, and functionality of an EHR. The impact the EHR could have on a general population is invaluable; therefore, it needs special attention from a trained professional.

    Read More

  • E-Prescribing and It's Function in Healthcare

    1277 Words  | 3 Pages

    Electronic-prescribing, often referred to as e-prescribing, is a fairly new, innovative way for physicians and other medical personnel to prescribe medications and keep track of patients’ medical history. Not only has e-prescribing enabled prescribers to electronically send a prescription to the patients’ pharmacy of choice, in the short amount of time it has been available, it has significantly reduced health care costs, not only for the patient, but for the medical facilities as well. In 2003, e-prescribing was included in the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) which jumpstarted the role of e-prescribing in healthcare. It has proven to significantly reduce the yearly number medication errors and prescription fraud, and its widespread publicity has helped build awareness of e-prescribing’s role in enhancing patient safety. Although it has not been in practice for very long, e-prescribing has already made a positive impact in the field of health care.

    Read More

  • The Advantages and Disadvantages of Bar Code Scanning in Medication Administration

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    Grissinger, M., & Globus, N. J. (2004). How technology affects your risk of medication errors.Nursing2004, 34(1), 36-41. Retrieved from www.nursingcenter.com

    Read More

  • Applications of Computers in Pharmacy

    1630 Words  | 4 Pages

    • The computer is becoming the key factor of hospital pharmacy practice. Enhancement of computer technology is essential to assist the hospital pharmacist in keeping all relevant data in order to provide optimal oversight of drug therapy. As more data become available on drugs, the factor which place the patient at risk for developing reactions to drug, pharmacist must place less reliance on committing all facts to memory and recognize that the computer is a necessary solution to optimizing patient care.

    Read More

More about Electronic Prescribing Disadvantages

Open Document