| Page 3 of 3 < |
Few Doctors Sign Off on Online Prescribing
Tamara Sobel orders a perscription via laptop.
(By James A. Parcell For The Washington Post)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
And although e-prescribing is usually speedy, clogged computer servers can slow down transmission, Satisky said.
Even with the financial incentives, it may be difficult to convince doctors to ditch their prescription pads.
As part of its e-prescribing project, CareFirst provided hand-held devices, software and training to 500 physicians. Today, 350 are still enrolled. Some of the remaining 150 doctors have graduated to more sophisticated electronic medical records, but many simply returned to pen and pad.
"Providers are creatures of habit; they have processes they are used to," said Pete Stoessel, a CareFirst administrator involved in the initiative. "They are very, very averse to change."
Initially, Sobel was nervous about switching to e-prescribing.
"I'm not a computer person," she said. "But this is so easy even I can do it."
Comments: connollyc@washpost.com.
