Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Senator (Michigan) talks about "E-prescribing" benefits.

Electronic Prescriptions Save Lives and Money

Cutting Out Mistakes: Computers Versus Handwriting

Four out of every five adults take at least one medication or dietary supplement every day, according to the Institute of Medicine. Every year, hundreds of thousands of prescription drug errors are made due to handwritten prescriptions. These errors often lead to drug mix-ups, wrong dosages, dangerous drug interactions and allergic reactions.

To combat growing quality and safety concerns, a bi-partisan coalition led by Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Senator (Michigan) is trying to pass legislation aimed at expediting the use of electronic prescribing. “E-prescribing” is when a physician uses a computer or hand-held computing device to electronically generate and send a prescription to a pharmacist's computer. The benefits of this technology include reducing potentially harmful drug interactions by alerting physicians of possible risks, eliminating illegible physician hand-written prescriptions and cutting patient wait time at the pharmacy. Less paperwork and more information for the physician equal more convenience and lower cost for the patient.

To combat growing quality and safety concerns, a bi-partisan coalition is trying to pass legislation aimed at expediting the use of electronic prescribing. “E-prescribing” is when a physician uses a computer or hand-held computing device to electronically generate and send a prescription to a pharmacist's computer. The benefits of this technology include reducing potentially harmful drug interactions by alerting physicians of possible risks, eliminating illegible physician hand-written prescriptions and cutting patient wait time at the pharmacy. Less paperwork and more information for the physician equal more convenience and lower cost for the patient.