Electronic prescribing could save at least $29bn
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《英国医生杂志》
New York
The US healthcare system could save $29bn (￡16.2bn; 24.2bn) a year if doctors sent their prescriptions electronically to pharmacies, says a report from eHealth Initiative, a non-profit organisation based in Washington, DC, that aims to increase safety and efficiency in health care through information technology.
Electronic prescribing would realise savings of about $27bn, because there would be fewer duplications of prescriptions when different doctors prescribe the same drug for a patient, and computerised databases would tell doctors about cheaper generic drugs and alert them to interactions and incorrect dosages. Another $2bn would by saved by fewer prescribing errors resulting in doctors' visits or stays in hospital.
Janet Marchibroda, chief executive officer of eHealth Initiative, said that the law required doctors to use electronic methods
Janet Marchibroda, chief executive officer of eHealth Initiative, said that the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act required doctors and pharmacists to use electronic methods. The act is a major reform of the health insurance programme for elderly people and disabled people. It will have wide effects, as Medicare pays for much health care in the United States. The act requires standards for electronic methods to be set in place by April 2008. At present, she said, only about a third of US hospitals have computerised systems for doctors to order prescriptions. And of these hospitals only about 5% require their doctors to use them.
President Bush has called for a national electronic medical records system within 10 years and for adoption of national healthcare information standards. Tommy Thompson, secretary of health and human services, last week appointed Dr David Brailer as national health information technology coordinator.(Janice Hopkins Tanne)
The US healthcare system could save $29bn (￡16.2bn; 24.2bn) a year if doctors sent their prescriptions electronically to pharmacies, says a report from eHealth Initiative, a non-profit organisation based in Washington, DC, that aims to increase safety and efficiency in health care through information technology.
Electronic prescribing would realise savings of about $27bn, because there would be fewer duplications of prescriptions when different doctors prescribe the same drug for a patient, and computerised databases would tell doctors about cheaper generic drugs and alert them to interactions and incorrect dosages. Another $2bn would by saved by fewer prescribing errors resulting in doctors' visits or stays in hospital.
Janet Marchibroda, chief executive officer of eHealth Initiative, said that the law required doctors to use electronic methods
Janet Marchibroda, chief executive officer of eHealth Initiative, said that the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act required doctors and pharmacists to use electronic methods. The act is a major reform of the health insurance programme for elderly people and disabled people. It will have wide effects, as Medicare pays for much health care in the United States. The act requires standards for electronic methods to be set in place by April 2008. At present, she said, only about a third of US hospitals have computerised systems for doctors to order prescriptions. And of these hospitals only about 5% require their doctors to use them.
President Bush has called for a national electronic medical records system within 10 years and for adoption of national healthcare information standards. Tommy Thompson, secretary of health and human services, last week appointed Dr David Brailer as national health information technology coordinator.(Janice Hopkins Tanne)