Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) is intended to ensure accurate, error-free and understandable prescriptions are sent directly to pharmacies. This advancement in health information technology was found to lower the risk of Adverse Drug Events (ADE) requiring emergency department visits or hospitalizations among diabetes patients.
In an AHRQ-supported article, researchers examined 2011–2013 data for 3.1 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries who were 66 or older and had taken anti-diabetes medications for at least 90 days. Their analysis was published in Medical Care and reported over twice as many ADEs for those with lower rates of electronic prescriptions: 21/1000 beneficiaries for those with 75% e-prescribe versus 44/1000 beneficiaries for those with .1-24.9% e-prescribe.
The Great Plains QIN is partnering with providers, pharmacists and stakeholders in the region to reduce and monitor ADE rates. E-prescribing can increase positive health outcomes and contribute to each clinics transition to value-based care. The Advancing Care Information performance category in the Quality Payment Program requires attesting to the use of electronic prescribing. As one of the four performance categories, the points contribute to 25 percent of the total score.
Contact local staff and learn more about medication safety, how medication safety is a key element to improved care coordination and the impact of e-prescribing on Quality Payment Program transition on the Great Plains QIN website.