Adapted from: Electronic Prescribing: Towards Maximum Value and Rapid Adoption and Kuperman et al. (permission to reproduce applied for) As is evident from the above discussion, the thus encompasses term “ePrescribing” a wide range of systems, these including both CPOE and CDSS and varying degrees of integration with other electronic record systems. In the absence of any agreed definition, ePrescribing is used in this chapter as an inclusive term referring to at minimum the electronic generation of prescriptions, but which may include point-of-care (POC) decision support and, amongst other things, electronic communication of the prescription information to other professionals and agencies involved with medicines management. 10.2.2 Description of use Prescribing is a complex organisational practice, including a range of processes spread across locations and involving diverse actors, so it is unsurprising that that ePrescribing systems are also organisationally complex; the choices available in their implementation and dimensions that can be included in their evaluation are hence also multifarious. Figure 10.2 depicts the complexity of ePrescribing processes. It shows how ePrescribing can involve different healthcare professionals at different points of prescribing procedures and how these may require professionals to have access to or medical records to prescribe patients’ healthcare appropriately. Medication errors can occur at any point in the prescribing processes i.e. prescribing, transmitting the order, dispensing, administration and monitoring, and ePrescribing systems can therefore potentially support any of these functions. Figure 10.2 High-level ePrescribing architecture Source: Bell et al. (permission to reproduce applied for) ePrescribing systems have been developed for use in a range of healthcare settings, these ranging from primary care to hospital-based care. This issue of setting of use is emphasised in the taxonomy developed by Cornford et al. i.e.: Pharmacy-based systems
Adapted from: Electronic Prescribing: Towards Maximum Value and Rapid Adoption and Kuperman et al. (permission to reproduce applied for) As is evident from the above discussion, the term “ePrescribing” thus encompasses a wide range of systems, these including both CPOE and CDSS and varying degrees of integration with other electronic record systems. In the absence of any agreed definition, ePrescribing is used in this chapter as an inclusive term referring to at minimum the electronic generation of prescriptions, but which may include point-of-care (POC) decision support and, amongst other things, electronic communication of the prescription information to other professionals and agencies involved with medicines management. 10.2.2 Description of use Prescribing is a complex organisational practice, including a range of processes spread across locations and involving diverse actors, so it is unsurprising that that ePrescribing systems are also organisationally complex; the choices available in their implementation and dimensions that can be included in their evaluation are hence also multifarious. Figure 10.2 depicts the complexity of ePrescribing processes. It shows how ePrescribing can involve different healthcare professionals at different points of prescribing procedures and how these may require professionals to have access to patients’ healthcare or medical records to prescribe appropriately. Medication errors can occur at any point in the prescribing processes i.e. prescribing, transmitting the order, dispensing, administration and monitoring, and ePrescribing systems can therefore potentially support any of these functions. Figure 10.2 High-level ePrescribing architecture Source: Bell et al. (permission to reproduce applied for) ePrescribing systems have been developed for use in a range of healthcare settings, these ranging from primary care to hospital-based care. This issue of setting of use is emphasised in the taxonomy developed by Cornford et al. i.e.: Pharmacy-based systems