We have been on EMR for 12 years (see previous posts). For the past 3 years, we have been faxing prescriptions, which has been very nice. Prescriptions are waiting patients when they arrive at the pharmacy (usually). So when we made the change to e-prescribing (using Sure Scripts embedded in our EMR) we figured it would be no big deal. After all, this is what is being “mandated” by Medicare (actually a 2% bonus if using it).
It’s not as smooth as expected. Here are the problems we are having:
1. Not all pharmacies are set-up yet with e-prescribing, but that is going to get better.
2. When you send an e-prescription, many pharmacies don’t check it and so call and say you haven’t sent it in.
3. Today, I was sending them in but they were delayed by nearly 30 minutes, and so got called on nearly every prescription.
4. Scheduled medications (of ANY category) cannot be e-prescribed. We can call in or fax anything but schedule 2 narcotics, but for some reason the more secure process of e-prescribing does not allow that. This means that I have to break up prescriptions on many patients – e-prescribing some, and faxing others.
All in all, I feel like we have taken a step backwards. So what happens when widespread adoption occurs?
Chaos.
I can hardly wait.
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