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johng
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Reged: 02/13/03
Posts: 351
Loc: great lakes
electronic scripts
      #162355 - 05/15/04 05:07 PM

this would be one way phamices and docs coud see what you are taking nation wide

E-scripts

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Ask and it will be given to you Matthew 7:7


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night_shade
Threadhead


Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
Re: electronic scripts [Re: johng]
      #162473 - 05/16/04 11:46 AM

I am posting the text of the article before formulating my response:

==========================================
E-prescriptions finding a market niche
Barron's analyzes wired-up way of ordering medication
By Rex Crum, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 5:16 PM ET May 15, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Those illegible doctor's prescriptions could be going the way of Morse code and the black-and-white TV.

A report in this week's Barron's says that even though 95 percent of doctors still write their prescriptions on paper pads, the market for so-called "e-prescriptions" could be about to finally show some real growth. Barron's says that among those trying to boost the use and acceptance of e-prescriptions, health insurance providers are beginning to pay doctors to install electronic prescribing systems, and that about 75 percent of the nation's pharmacies should be connected to a national e-prescription network by the end of summer.

The growth of e-prescriptions is seen as beneficial to the insurers, doctors, customers and companies involved in promoting the technology.

Barron's says e-prescriptions can make the refill process easier than current methods, and thus results in patients taking more of their medicine. Health insurers and prescription benefit managers such as CareMark Rx (CMX: news, chart, profile), Medco Health Solutions (MHS: news, chart, profile) and Express Scripts (ESRX: news, chart, profile) like the concept because they believe doctors will be more likely to prescribe generic and less-expensive brand-name drugs. And the companies that develop e-prescription systems, such as Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (MDRX: news, chart, profile), are in favor of anything that gets their technology in more doctor offices and pharmacies.

However, not everyone is completely sold on the concept. Barron's says that for druggists, one drawback is that prescriptions are more likely to be generic, resulting in lower prescription fees. Also, some retailers think the e-prescribing will spread the use of "split prescriptions" in which a doctor writes a prescription for a local pharmacy, but refills come from a less-pricey mail-order firm.

Barron's says that a study by a health-care group called the eHealth Initiative showed that e-prescriptions could save consumers $27 billion a year. The potential for such savings is seen as a key growth driver for the ordering system.

Rex Crum is a reporter for CBS.MarketWatch.com in San Francisco.
==================================================

My problem with this system is who has access? I guarantee there will be many 3rd party people who will have access to OUR prescription information. Should any of these individuals care to attempt to subvert or steal scheduled prescriptions, they would know just when and and where to find them.

What if is there is a "bug" in the system? Computers go down. Servers crash. Data gets lost. Obviously back-ups and IT people will have to be employed to maintain continuity and preserve the information. But it still makes me worry.

Personally, it doesn't matter to me who knows (as far as the DEA, the FBI, George Bush--whoever) what I am taking and from whom and how much. But I DON'T want my ability to fill my prescriptions to be hindered by corrupted or lost data. Which begs a question--HOW ARE SCHEDULED PRESCRIPTIONS HANDLED? Anyone who can hack into the system could write their own--or change other peoples' prescriptions. Paper Rx's will probably still be required for schedule II substances, would be my guess.

Perhaps it's just my fatalism or paranoia at work here, but when something CAN go wrong--IT WILL!

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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.


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bucket
Journeyman


Reged: 04/03/04
Posts: 55
Loc: wisconsin
Re: electronic scripts [Re: night_shade]
      #162484 - 05/16/04 01:27 PM

I went to the doctor a few months ago and was surprised that my doctor is doing this already. I guess I'm just so darn used to walking out with a script in hand that it felt weird to me. I liked how all I had to do was go to the pharmacy and it was ready to be picked up but, I don't like how someone (big brother..lol) could gain my info quit easily. And actually it's all computerized now not just the script writing but, the whole medical history. From the time the nurse comes in until the time the doctor leaves you they are at the computer and I felt like everything I said in there was being recorded. Just out of curiosity I requested a copy of my medical records for the last year to see if there was a difference in the way they are transcribed too. And boy is there a difference. You can really tell where the computer came into play. Everything from computer time on is very well written and much more detail included.
Not sure how I feel as I can see there are a great many benifits for the doctor and the staff but, it wasn't such a great feeling like I was talking more to the computer then the doc. or the nurse. Just my thoughts though


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Carmanti
Stranger


Reged: 01/01/04
Posts: 24
Loc: Ohio
Re: electronic scripts [Re: bucket]
      #162488 - 05/16/04 02:06 PM

My doctor has been doing that for a couple of months. I have noticed a much more "play by the rules" approach by my Doctor. For instance, she told me I had to stick with 1 local pharmacy if I wanted to continue getting prescriptions. Also, My doctor, and the local Walgreens (which also does electronic scripts) won't refill my tramadol prescription until one month, to the day after the initial fill, where as I was able to get the refill a day or two before I would run out. Just my experience, and I agree that any self-respecting hacker could get our info if they wanted to.

--------------------
-Honesty is the best Policy, but Insanity makes a better defense.


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