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- Electronic prescriptions are one of the great time savers of electronic medical records (EMR). It is a sobering thought that after first entering the data, perhaps a slightly more lengthy task than the scribble on a script pad, you may never have to do this again. In many systems, a repeat script is no more that than mouse clicks away. What used to take perhaps two to three minutes now takes no more than 30 seconds - and that includes a review of the medication.
- Your patient’s medication record is neatly and accurately kept in one place, automatically. No more searching the notes, trying to make out your locum or partners' handwriting.
- You can choose to print the neatly organized and clearly typed prescription and hand this to your patient, or have it faxed to a pharmacy of their choice. Some physicians directly fax them from the computer to the pharmacy, although some pharmacies have yet to accept an electronic signature. (Work is being done to address this issue.)
- Prescribing within an EMR is both faster and safer. Information is clearly stored and communicated. In many systems, your favorites are stored, and your usual dosage and duration automatically kept handy so that a new prescription is only a mouse click away.
- The time saved on prescribing electronically can easily translate into a less rushed consult, more time to concentrate on the clinical component or the ability to see one more patient in the day. (A 30 second saving on prescribing per consultation easily translates into an extra consultation per day and arguably pays for the system on that basis alone.)
- What to do with the time saved is up to you.
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