We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Computerized prescribing: building the electronic infrastructure for better medication usage.
- Authors
Schiff, G D; Rucker, T D
- Abstract
Computerized prescribing in the practice of medicine is a change that is overdue. Virtually all prescriptions in the United States are still handwritten. Instead, medications should be ordered on a computer interacting with 3 databases: patient drug history, scientific drug information and guideline reference, and patient-specific (weight, laboratory) data. Current problems with prescribing on which computerized prescribing could have a positive impact include (1) drug selection; (2) patient role in pharmacotherapy risk-benefit decision making; (3) screening for interactions (drug-drug, drug-laboratory, drug-disease); (4) linkages between laboratory and pharmacy; (5) dosing calculations and scheduling; (6) coordination between team members, particularly concerning patient education; (7) monitoring and documenting adverse effects; and (8) postmarketing surveillance of therapy outcomes. Computerized prescribing is an important component of clinician order entry. Development of this tool has been impeded by a number of conceptual, implementation, and policy barriers. Overcoming these constraints will require clinically and professionally guided vision and leadership.
- Publication
JAMA, 1998, Vol 279, Issue 13, p1024
- ISSN
0098-7484
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1001/jama.279.13.1024