E-prescriptions And Controlled Substances

The e-prescription feature of practice management software has been a revolutionary

change for doctors and patients -- most notably for the improvement of practice workflow and the reduction in the number of incorrectly filled drug orders. However some specialists run into a major roadblock when trying to use electronic prescriptions: under federal law electronic orders cannot be used for certain medications.

Prescribing Controlled Substances

The US Department of Justice, specifically the Drug Enforcement Agency, currently disallows physicians from using electronic media to prescribe controlled substances such as narcotics. This ruling has frustrated doctors, insurance companies and pharmacies who have all campaigned to get the DEA to lift this ban.

While many doctors prescribe only a few drugs each year that fall under this ban, other specialists are more strongly affected. For example David Hunt, chief medical officer of the Office of the National Coordinator, said at a Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference that since he is surgeon, nearly every one of his patients receives analgesics, typically narcotic in nature. This creates a significant burden for a practice that wants to use the e-prescription feature of practice management software but is unable.

Implementing Dual Workflows

Although some practices are simply refusing to use practice management software until this e-prescription problem is solved, this may be a shortsighted decision. Electronic prescriptions save money and save lives by making the drug management process more efficient.

Some offices are implementing two work streams, one for controlled drugs and one for other drugs. If a patient needs a controlled drug, it is prescribed using standard paper prescriptions. Patients that need other drugs can benefit from e-prescriptions. If a patient needs both, such as a pain reliever and an antibiotic, either the patient could receive both types or the practice might prefer simply doing both drugs with paper prescriptions.

Although implementing and administering two workflows can be a challenge, the benefits from e-prescriptions typically outweigh the problems of managing both systems simultaneously.

Waiting For Regulatory Changes

The federal government is aware of the public disagreement with the policy and a number of initiatives have challenge the rule and tried to change it. In 2008 the DEA released a proposed change entitled, "Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances," which is still under review two years later.

Although it may take time, it is almost certain change will come. With federal efforts to encourage more practices to adopt practice management software there is pressure within the government to make the process easier on physicians. The benefits of e-prescriptions, particularly in regard to patient safety, are another driving force motivating the Department of Justice to rethink its position.

Physicians should not let the current state of the system prevent them from investigating practice management software. Even if they should retain their old method of prescribing drugs, the advantages of using electronic medical records in a modern practice are too great to ignore.

by: Christine Harrell

POST COMMENT

Pull-Ups and Why They Will be Important to Your Workout Fose Survey Indicates Cloud Computing And Virtualization Top Initiatives A Adventurers Fundamentals To Searching The Superb Niagara Falls, Canada Accommodation And Visiting Came, Destroying and Losing Junk removal and rubbish removal How to Make Him Commit – How to Win His Heart and Keep It 5 Ways to Fuel Your Intentions and Turn Them Into Rockets of Creation The Facts About Binaural Beats And Altered States Of Consciousness Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher Learn How to Pick Stocks Add More Pretty Ceiling Fan Lights And Your Visitors May Never Look Down! Create Pleasure And Make Your Salsa Fundraiser A Massive Good results Fire Hazards - Their Importance And How To Identify Them