Healthy Living Newsletter
E-Prescribing Provides Both
Patient Safety & Convenience
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| A member of a new generation of physicians, Jun Garcia, MD, a Family Care Physician at Mercy Family Care — Fort Gratiot, reviews a patient’s prescription for drug interactions on his PDA, prior to sending it electronically to the patient’s preferred pharmacy. |
Extending her hand to accept the anticipated medication prescription to treat her son’s newly diagnosed strep-throat, Diana Smith was surprised when her family physician informed her that the prescription would be waiting at her pharmacy.
“What do you mean?” she inquired, “How will they know if I don’t give the pharmacist a written prescription?”
Her doctor responded, “We’re using ePrescribing now. I order your prescription on the computer, and it is sent electronically to your pharmacy’s computer system.”
Surprised and delighted at the thought of not having to wait an extra minute to get her son started on his antibiotic, Diana headed out of the office and off to her pharmacy where her son’s prescription was waiting for her when she arrived.
Welcome to another chapter in the development of the electronic medical record (EMR).
ePrescribing’s advanced system of accepting patient prescriptions via computer provides both enhanced patient safety and fast and convenient service throughout St. Clair County.
“Currently about 15 area physicians are piloting the program,” comments Marianna Webb, Executive Director of the M-PC PHO, Mercy’s Physician Hospital Organization. This Blue Cross/Blue Shield initiative was designed to introduce physicians and patients to this advanced technology.”
The M-PC PHO has been leading the effort on behalf of local physicians enrolled in the organization and is managing their introduction to the process, helping office staff obtain training and working to promote the program throughout its membership.
“This is an important initiative,” continues Marianna, “in addition to providing patient convenience, it helps eliminate drug errors when an electronic message alerts doctors of potential allergic reactions, and allows prescriptions to be cancelled in the event of drug-to-drug interactions.”
A report issued in July 2006 by the Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, estimated that more than 1.5 million Americans are injured every year due to drug errors. “We’re working to lower that statistic in our community,” says Marianna.
Jun Garcia, MD, a Family Practice physician with Mercy Family Care in Fort Gratiot has been using the system since May and is realizing the benefits for himself, his staff and his patients.
“This system offers enhanced ways to manage patient care,” comments Dr. Garcia who utilizes the system to log and issue prescriptions every 30 to 60 minutes during his active office hours.
“It’s most beneficial for patients with chronic diseases, such as hypertension or diabetes; who need regular medication refills,” Dr. Garcia continues. “I can review the patient’s medication needs from home or the office at any time of day or night to ensure their prescriptions are waiting for them when they need them most.”
Dr. Garcia sees these types of advancements as the future of medicine. “This is just one more step in the development of a true electronic medical record for all patients,” he says. “Paper charts are inefficient and costly to the environment. Some day accessing a patient’s medical and health history will be at his or her physician’s fingertips, allowing for advanced medical care and treatment and safety on behalf of everyone.”
Dr. Garcia is a member of a new generation of physicians who embrace the combination of computer technology to enhance patient care. At age 39, he didn’t have the advantage of computer-related training in medical school when he graduated in 1993; but, not unlike many other physicians, he sees the potential in this cutting-edge combination.
“Most medical students and residents today are receiving the benefit of classroom instruction to utilize these types of programs to enhance their practice of medicine,” he says. “They will expect to keep these skills current wherever they choose to practice, making ePrescribing and other steps to an EMR really important in the future for access to the best, most highly-trained physicians.”
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| Offering advanced patient care and safety, Seema Doshi, MD, uses ePrescribing daily in her active medical practice in Yale. |
For now, providing access to ePrescribing to local physicians is just one more link in the chain. “It doesn’t always work well for every patient,” concludes Dr. Garcia. “Sometimes the patient utilizes a pharmacy that doesn’t have electronic messaging, or his/her prescription is such that we are still required to use the prescription pad. But, overall, the experience has been very positive for patients.”
Seema Doshi, MD, an Internal Medicine Physician and Pediatrician at Mercy Family Care in Yale, who uses ePrescribing daily, couldn’t agree more. “This is a great system for enhanced patient care and staff efficiency. My staff doesn’t have to ask questions about written orders, because I input them directly into the computer.
“What’s more,” she concludes, “the system is designed with so many safeguards to ensure that no one tampers with the process. No one can access a patient’s record except his/her physician, ensuring not only convenient, but complete patient privacy.”
To find out more about Mercy Hospital’s cutting-edge investments in patient care and safety through computerization, visit the Genesis section of this website.
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