Organizations helping pharmacists make transition to e-prescribing

BOSTON Several health worker organizations and the eHealth Initiative have released a how-to guide to help clinicians decide when and how to transition from paper to electronic prescribing systems, eHI announced at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services National e-Prescribing Conference in Boston Tuesday.

The guide, “A Clinicians Guide to Electronic Prescribing,” is the result of collaboration efforts between eHI, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the Medical Group Management Association and the Center for Improving Medication Management.

“We know e-prescribing is an efficient way to improve healthcare delivery, decrease medication errors and prevent potentially dangerous drug interactions,” eHI chief executive officer Janet Marchibroda said. “However, the transition from a paper to electronic system is quite challenging.”

The organizations developed the guide under the guidance of a steering group comprising clinicians, consumers, employers, health plans, pharmacies and four major medical associations.