E-prescribing and Patient Safety: Results from a Mixed Method Study.

OBJECTIVES To describe ambulatory care clinicians' perspectives on the effect of e-prescribing systems on patient safety outcomes. STUDY DESIGN We used a mixed-method study of clinicians and staff in 64 practices using one of six e-prescribing technologies in six U.S. states. METHODS We used clinician surveys (web-based and paper) and focus groups to obtain clinicians' perspectives on e-prescribing and patient safety. RESULTS Providers highly valued having medications prescribed by other providers on the medication list and the ability to access patients' medication lists remotely. Providers felt that there will always be prescription or medication errors and that the implementation of e-prescribing software changes rather than eliminates prescription or medication errors. New errors related to the dosing or scheduling of a medication, accidentally prescribing the wrong drug, or duplicate prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS Lessons from the ambulatory care trenches must be considered as technology moves forward so that the hypothesized patient safety gains will be realized.