Electronic Prescribing Within an Electronic Health Record Reduces Ambulatory Prescribing Errors

摘要

Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) is viewed as a potentially promising strategy for improving patient safety. As a result of incentives in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, more widespread e-prescribing use in the United States is expected, and current rates of use, although low, are increasing.~1-3 The number of providers using e-prescribing grew from 74,000 in 2008 to 156,000 in 2009. However, rates are lowest in solo and small-group community-based practices, although almost 75% of patient visits are made to community-based physicians practicing in groups of five or fewer.~4-6