E-Prescribing collaboration in Massachusetts: early experiences from regional prescribing projects

J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2006 May-Jun;13(3):239-44. doi: 10.1197/jamia.M2028. Epub 2006 Feb 24.

Abstract

Massachusetts payers and providers have encouraged clinician usage of e-Prescribing technology to improve patient safety, enhance office practice efficiencies, and reduce medical costs. This report describes three early pilot e-Prescribing projects as case studies. These projects identified the e-Prescribing needs of clinicians, illustrated key issues that made implementation difficult, and clarified the impact of various types of functionality. The authors identified ten key barriers: (1) previous negative technology experiences, (2) initial and long-term cost, (3) lost productivity, (4) competing priorities, (5) change management issues, (6) interoperability limitations, (7) information technology (IT) requirements, (8) standards limitations, (9) waiting for an "all-in-one solution," and (10) confusion about competing product offerings including hospital/Integrated Delivery System (IDN)-sponsored projects. In Massachusetts, regional projects have helped to address these barriers, and e-Prescribing activities are accelerating rapidly within the state.

MeSH terms

  • Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Plan Implementation
  • Humans
  • Massachusetts
  • Medical Order Entry Systems* / economics
  • Medical Order Entry Systems* / organization & administration
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Pilot Projects
  • Regional Medical Programs*
  • Societies, Medical
  • Software
  • State Health Plans
  • United States