Medication-related errors. Lost prescriptions. Privacy breaches. Clinical inefficiency. These are just a handful of reasons why manual, paper-based prescription practices are less-than-ideal in occupational health (OH) clinics. Therefore, when considering that these issues jeopardize employee safety, prolong patient recovery, introduce legal liability risk and increase costs, transitioning to an electronic prescription system becomes a no-brainer.
Enter e-Prescribing, or eRx. eRx is the electronic transmission of drug prescription data directly to a pharmacy through electronic health record (EHR) technology. E-Prescribing is a growing application that addresses many common challenges faced by occupational health practitioners and organizations hoping to stay compliant with growing legal mandates for eRx.
In this blog, we will cover:
- The challenges with traditional, paper-based, prescription methods
- The benefits that eRx solutions bring to occupational health clinics
- Why switching to an eRx solution is increasingly important
- Things to consider when evaluating eRx functionality for your organization
Limitations of Paper-based Prescription Processes
Timely access to accurate treatment data is critical for employee well-being. Reliance on paper-based prescription practices in occupational health (OH) clinics, however, poses several challenges that can hinder the effective delivery of care. These challenges include:
- Increased risk of medication errors: Paper prescriptions are more susceptible to medication-related errors, including illegible handwriting, transcription errors, or data misinterpretation. These errors not only jeopardize worker health, but can negatively affect treatment, recovery periods, and return-to-work outcomes.
- Delays in prescription fulfillment: The requirement for employees to physically take paper prescriptions to pharmacies can lead to delays in obtaining medications. Therefore, prolonging recovery periods, impacting health outcomes, and affecting overall workplace productivity.
- Fraud and abuse risk: Paper prescriptions are vulnerable to fraud, including forgery and unauthorized alterations, especially concerning controlled substances (e.g., opioids). This not only poses a risk to employee safety but can also expose organizations to legal and regulatory scrutiny.
- Delays in accessing employee health data: Relying on paper prescriptions can delay access to important information about drug interactions, allergies, or contraindications. In an occupational health setting, where managing employee appointments efficiently is key to meeting throughput KPIs, manually searching for this health data can be time-consuming and may delay prescribing decisions.
The challenges associated with paper-based prescription methods hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery within OH clinics. Embracing eRx is a proactive step towards modernizing OH care delivery and improving health outcomes in the workplace.
What is an eRx solution?
eRx solutions are digital applications that enable a prescriber to electronically send an accurate, error-free, and easy-to-read digital prescription directly to a pharmacy from the point-of-care, replacing traditional paper-based perscriptions.1
eRx allows clinicians to create prescriptions using specialized software, typically integrated with a patient’s EHR.2 The prescription is sent directly to the pharmacy, eliminating the need for patients to carry paper prescriptions.
Read how a Cority client switched to Electronic Health Records by implementing Medical Surveillance Groups functionality
Benefits of an eRx Solution at an Occupational Health Practice
Occupational health clinics can benefit significantly from the integration of eRx solutions within their care delivery models. Integrating a dedicated eRx workflow within an enterprise occupational health software platform enables OH clinicians to gather all necessary employee health data within a single, secure platform, ensuring safer and more efficient medication prescribing. Key benefits from eRx integration include:
Accelerated Care Delivery
An integrated eRx solution allows OH clinicians to send prescriptions directly to pharmacies, reducing the likelihood of lost, illegible, or misplaced paper prescriptions. Integration enables users to store prescription records with other employee health data in a centralized and secured place, making them easily accessible to clinicians and pharmacists alike. This rapid delivery enables employees to obtain their medications without delay, contributing to faster recovery from injury or illness.
Enhanced Clinical Productivity
With an integrated eRx solution, OH practitioners can quickly review critical employee health data, enabling them to make more informed prescription decisions, leading to faster drug dispensing. Additionally, with software, prescription refill requests can be processed in just a few clicks, freeing up valuable time for clinicians to focus on delivering direct employee care. Overall, eRx systems help enhance clinical productivity and contribute to a better in-clinic patient experience.
Better Access to Medication Information
Some eRx solutions include the option to integrate the tool with a drug database. These integrations provide clinicians with essential insights into medication options, dosages, and frequency, vital for safe prescribing. By offering real-time information on drug interactions and recommended dosages, these tools help minimize the risk of incorrect medication selection, reducing the likelihood of adverse side effects or complications.
But beyond operational improvements, integrating eRx is crucial for maintaining compliance. As regulatory requirements for electronic prescriptions continue to evolve, particularly around controlled substances, meeting those mandates is essential to mitigating legal risks and protecting the organization.
Learn how your organization can increase the efficiency of prescription management with Cority
Why now? A Closer Look at Key U.S. Mandates for e-Prescribing
Since the early 2000s, successive U.S. federal governments have sought to combat prescription drug abuse crisis by tightening controls around prescription opioids, while also expanding treatment and recovery options. Despite these efforts, data shows that opioid-related overdose deaths in the U.S. reached 81,083 in 2023.3 To further address the opioid epidemic, many U.S. states have implemented or introduced eRx mandates to better enforce controlled substance prescriptions.
One key measure is the Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS), overseen by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).4 Although not federally mandated, this regulation is designed to further empower states to regulate prescribing of controlled substances through eRX solutions. EPCS became effective in some states starting January 1, 2023.5
Currently, 35 states have mandated that all controlled substances, and, in some cases, all prescriptions, must be administered electronically.6 New York led the way with the I-STOP Act in 2016, becoming the first state to require that both controlled and non-controlled prescriptions be electronically transmitted. Similarly, California passed AB 2789, mandating that all prescriptions be sent electronically as of January 1, 2022. These laws represent significant milestones in the ongoing effort to combat the opioid crisis and improve prescription accuracy and safety.
To view an interactive map of U.S. states with eRx mandate laws, click here.
Selecting an eRx Solution for Occupational Health Clinics
When selecting an OH solution, prioritizing one that integrates seamlessly with an eRx system is essential. However, the evaluation shouldn’t stop there. It’s important to assess the overall eRx workflow to ensure it meets critical needs:
- Comprehensive employee health information: The solution provides access to complete employee health data for effective medication prescribing, ensuring clinicians have all necessary information at the point of care.
- Medication review and decision support: Users can easily review available medication options and past prescriptions and determine appropriate dosages, while accounting for employee health conditions, allergies, and contraindications.
- Auditing and compliance: The solution includes robust auditing capabilities for tracking and reviewing prescribed medications, ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance.
By incorporating these elements, OH teams can provide high-quality healthcare, contribute to broader society health initiatives like opioid crisis mitigation, and protect organizations from legal risks.
Final thoughts
While new regulations are creating a much-needed push, the advantages of digital eRx solutions are compelling and clear. Adopting an eRx solution isn’t just about upgrading technology—it’s about transforming how OH clinics deliver care. By streamlining workflows, reducing prescription errors, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, eRx integration elevates health and safety and clinic efficiency.
Sources
1 https://www.cms.gov/medicare/regulations-guidance/electronic-prescribing
3 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2024/20240515.htm
