A Prescription For Enhancing Electronic Prescribing Safety.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Medication Safety
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems aim to reduce medication errors and enhance safety.
• Despite benefits, current e-prescribing processes remain vulnerable to errors.
• The outpatient setting presents unique challenges for optimizing e-prescribing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key areas for improving electronic prescribing systems.
• To enhance medication ordering quality and safety in outpatient settings.
• To propose actionable recommendations for transforming e-prescribing.

Main Methods:

• Review of six intersecting areas within electronic prescribing systems.
• Analysis of potential system changes to improve medication ordering.
• Focus on outpatient e-prescribing vulnerabilities and solutions.

Main Results:

• Incorporating medication indications into e-prescribing.
• Establishing a single, shared online medication list.
• Implementing electronic cancellation orders (CancelRx) for reliable discontinuation.
• Standardizing structured and codified prescription instructions.
• Reengineering clinical decision support systems.
• Redesigning systems to facilitate ordering of non-drug alternatives.

Conclusions:

• Specific system enhancements can significantly improve medication ordering quality and safety.
• Addressing identified areas can mitigate risks associated with electronic prescribing.
• Transformative changes are needed to realize the full potential of e-prescribing for patient safety.