The AMA has created an extensive online resource.
By the close of 2008, only about 13% of physicians were prescribing electronically. The prescription pad and pen still rule in most offices.
But doctors are getting a nudge to automate their prescribing process. Physicians who prescribe electronically for their Medicare patients will be eligible for incentive payments. This year’s bonus will be equal to 2% of all Medicare Part B pay for the year.
Before the monetary incentives there was friendly persuasion. A 2006 Institute of Medicine report called on all prescribers to have an electronic prescribing system in place by 2010, saying such systems would help reduce medication errors. In November 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a guide for doctors who plan to seek Medicare e-prescribing incentives that started this year.
Will all this be enough to get doctors to embrace e-prescribing? Hard to tell given the expense and uncertainties about choosing the right system.
The American Medical Association has help for physicians at a timely, in-depth resource that provides them with the tools and information they need to make decisions about implementing electronic prescribing in their practices.
On April 1, the AMA launched its e-prescribing learning center, a one-stop shop for what doctors need to know to navigate the proper course when considering and adopting e-prescribing (www.ama-assn.org/go/eprescribing). More Here Electronic Prescription