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Electronic prescribing in pediatrics: toward safer and more effective medication management
Insights
Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems can enhance pediatric healthcare quality and safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends adopting these systems with specific pediatric features.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Health Policy
Background:
- Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems offer potential benefits for improving healthcare quality and reducing patient harm.
- Limited but positive data exists regarding the impact of e-prescribing in pediatric populations.
- Federal statutes incentivize the adoption and use of e-prescribing technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the value of e-prescribing systems in pediatric healthcare.
- To recommend the adoption of e-prescribing systems tailored for pediatric use.
- To outline essential functionalities for e-prescribing systems in pediatric settings.
Main Methods:
- Policy statement development based on existing pediatric data.
- Consideration of federal legislative incentives for e-prescribing adoption.
- Formulation of recommendations for technology vendors and healthcare providers.
Main Results:
- E-prescribing systems hold significant potential for enhancing quality of care in pediatrics.
- Positive pediatric data, though limited, supports the benefits of e-prescribing.
- Federal incentives encourage the uptake of these systems.
Conclusions:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends adopting e-prescribing systems with pediatric functionality.
- Specific functional requirements for e-prescribing vendors in pediatric environments are outlined.
- Widespread adoption can lead to improved safety and quality in pediatric healthcare.
Abstract:
This policy statement identifies the potential value of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems in improving quality and reducing harm in pediatric health care. On the basis of limited but positive pediatric data and on the basis of federal statutes that provide incentives for the use of e-prescribing systems, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the adoption of e-prescribing systems with pediatric functionality. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends a set of functions that technology vendors should provide when e-prescribing systems are used in environments in which children receive care.
Related Concept Videos
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