Without effective processes in place, a simple errand can turn into a big headache. Toronto pharmacist Parag Shah wanted a better experience for his patients. “I’m interested in e-prescribing because ultimately, it will improve patient care,” he explains.
Seeking more efficiency in his pharmacy’s workflow, he turned to PrescribeIT®, Canada’s national e-prescribing service. Because PrescribeIT® sends prescriptions directly from the prescriber’s electronic medical record (EMR) to a pharmacy management system (PMS), Shah doesn’t have to worry about dropped faxes or missed phone calls. Instead, prescriptions seamlessly integrate into Shah’s PMS, increasing efficiencies and freeing up more time to spend with patients.
With PrescribeIT®, Shah reports processing prescriptions much more quickly. Patients enjoy the benefits of a more efficient workflow as well, spending less time waiting for their prescriptions to be filled. “They’ve noticed it, and they love it.” he says.
Communications with prescribers are similarly streamlined. Rather than playing phone tag with prescribers or fighting with fax machines, Shah can communicate with prescribers directly. Not only is it a faster process, it’s more secure. Since communications occur directly within their respective workflows, pharmacists can be confident their message is reaching the intended prescribers.
An uptake in virtual care is also demonstrating the growing importance of e-prescribing for prescribers and patients. Paper prescriptions aren’t helpful for patients having virtual visits, and as more clinical settings go paperless, e-prescribing enables the secure, seamless transmission of prescription data.
For Shah, e-prescribing has been a welcome addition to his toolkit. “From the patient standpoint, from the pharmacist standpoint…it improves all facets of the pharmacy workflow and experience for the patient.” As Canadians increasingly adopt a “virtual first” approach to their health care, e-prescribing can help them leave outmoded technologies in the past.
To learn more about Parag Shah’s journey with PrescribeIT®, watch our video series here. You can also visit Ask a Peer to connect with other health care professionals and have your e-prescribing questions answered.
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