Electronic Prescribing or e-Prescribing has steadily grown nationally and in Arizona. Approximately  two-thirds of prescriptions nationally and just over half of prescriptions in Arizona are -prescribed.

The many reasons for e-prescribing include:

• Improving patient care through the e-prescribing tools built into electronic health record systems (EHRs) that provide alerts for drug-to-drug interactions, allergies, therapeutic duplications, and contraindications
• Increasing patient adherence
• Reducing the potential for forgery of paper prescriptions and abuse of controlled substances
• Eliminating phone calls and inaccuracy due to illegible hand-written prescriptions
• Meeting Meaningful Use and Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements

E-Prescribing of Controlled Substances: Legal & Efficient
The electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) has been legal in Arizona since April 2012.  This means that one work flow can be used for both controlled and non-controlled prescriptions.  And the pharmacies are ready  – 98.5 percent of Arizona’s pharmacies accept e-prescriptions and 94.5 percent are EPCS-enabled.

Many patients today expect e-prescribing.  They appreciate the convenience as well as the additional safety features that e-prescribing offers.

Health Current offers e-prescribing help to providers by providing education, answering questions and assisting with barriers encountered. To contact us, please email erx@healthcurrent.org or visit www.healthcurrent.org/information-center/e-prescribing/ for more information.