Published on in Vol 4, No 3 (2013):

E-Prescribing: History, Issues, Potentials

E-Prescribing: History, Issues, Potentials

E-Prescribing: History, Issues, Potentials

Authors of this article:

Jack Warren Salmon1 ;   Ruixuan Jiang2
The full text of this article is available as a PDF download by clicking here.

Electronic-Prescribing, Computerized Prescribing, or E-RX has increased dramatically of late in the American health care system, a long overdue alternative to the written form for the almost five billion drug treatments annually. Pharmacies were early adopters of computerization for a variety of factors. The profession in its new corporate forms of chain drug stores and pharmacy benefits firms has sought efficiencies, profit enhancements, and clinical improvements through managed care strategies that rely upon data automation. E-RX seems to be a leading factor in overall physician acceptance of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), although the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) incentives seem to be the propelling force in acceptance. More research should be done by public health professionals focusing on resolutions to pharmaceutical use, safety, and cost escalation, which persist and remain dire following health reform.