Governor Urges E-Prescriptions

June 27, 2008

Governor Urges E-Prescriptions

Governor Napolitano has issued an Executive Order urging Arizona’s medical provider to use electronic prescriptions. “E-prescribing can reduce mistakes and the associated costs dramatically,” she says.One estimate says U.S. patients have 1.5 million drug “events” a year due to mistakes in the medication, errors that cost over 4 billion annually. If doctors would order meds electronically, they would not only eliminate the kinds of mistakes that go with handwritten notes, but allow the electronic system to catch drug interactions and have records available immediately in case there’s an emergency.Less than 3% of the state’s healthcare providers currently use e-prescriptions. The governor praised the growing use of electronic medical records and said the e-prescriptions will “ensure that we stay on the cutting-edge of health care technology.” She also encouraged the use of consumer tools that help with medication safety, like the Med Form, available at www.themedform.com. Airizona’s Health-e Connection has advanced a statewide e-health information system since 2005. It was Awarded a 12 milliom federal grant in 2007.

Posted by Rita | Filed Under Senior News 

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