E-Prescribing: From Two Different Perspectives

E-Prescribing: From Two Different Perspectives

Electronic record-keeping is promoted as a valuable way to avoid physician or computer-generated medical errors. Errors are often traced to incomplete patient medical records or misread paper records. In the case of e-Prescribing, the benefits for physicians and patients alike seem clear. A physician can quickly transmit a prescription to a pharmacy. There is no need to filter the information through a third party who might not understand the physician's handwriting or who may mistranslate the prescription. The patient does not have to wait for a long time for the physician to write a 'script.' if, for example, the doctor is calling in a prescription to a pharmacy for a child's earache, the transaction can be done within seconds. Furthermore, there is a reduction in medical errors, given that a physician can check to make sure that the drug is suitable for the patient, after reviewing the patient's age, other medications, allergies, and past medical history.

From a healthcare CIO (Chief Information Officer)'s perspective, e-prescribing is also invaluable, given it pleases both the physician and patients. From a very self-interested perspective, it also renders his or her role far more necessary within a healthcare organization, given that more of the business is now dependent upon electronic data! However, an ordinary citizen might be more leery of the practice than a healthcare CIO. First of all, many individuals who are unfamiliar with technology, who are on the 'wrong side' of the digital divide, might feel uncomfortable if they see a physician relying upon computers alone to send information to the pharmacy. Secondly, many citizens are uncomfortable with the amount of personal information that is available online. Of course, all health records are supposed to be strictly confidential. But as has been illustrated by the recent 'hacks' into top-secret banking, credit card, and even government information, nothing online is guaranteed to be secure. (of course, the same is true of paper records under lock and key, which can be broken into by old-fashioned burglars). Citizens are afraid that their sensitive electronic health data might fall into the wrong hands. They worry employers, health insurance companies, and even physicians could reject them, based upon the information that is available regarding their health status online.