Evaluation of a Nationwide e-Prescribing System

• Published in: Studies in health technology and informatics Vol. 264; p. 714
• Main Authors: Motulsky, Aude, Liang, ManQing, Moreault, Marie-Pierre, Borycki, Elizabeth, Kushniruk, Andre, Sicotte, Claude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 21.08.2019
• Subjects: Canada; Electronic Prescribing; Humans; Medication Errors; Pharmacists; Quebec; Canada; Quebec; Health Information Technology; Medication Adherence; Electronic Prescribing
• DOI: 10.3233/SHTI190316

Electronic prescribing, defined as the electronic generation and transmission of a medication order for community-dwelling patients, is presented as an essential technology to improve medication use. The objective of this study was to evaluate a nationwide e-prescribing system in Quebec, Canada. A mixed-method study was conducted from July 2017 until June 2018. A descriptive analysis of e-prescription usage was performed using aggregated usage data, combined with an exploratory descriptive analysis of the e-prescribing system from the perspective of users of two electronic health records (EHR) and pharmacy management systems (PMS) (n=9 prescribers; 8 pharmacy technicians and 11 pharmacists). Overall, the adoption of the system was low, with only 2% of prescriptions being electronically transmitted and retrieved during the study period. Alignment problems were identified on the prescriber's and receiver's side, generating safety issues, and hindering the potential for benefits realization.