At first blush, I was thinking what could be safer than sending Vicodin via ePrescribe. Currently we have the following alternatives:

1. Call it in (not optimal as anyone could do this -- one nurse of mine called it in, and the pharmacy didn't even get her name. They get names for Tylenol scripts (yes Tylenol -- free for Medicaid).
2. Sign the paper script and fax it.
3. Sign the paper script and hand to patient. (We do above because we aren't allowed to give a non Tamper-proof script to a medicaid patient. (You know how easy it is to change Amoxicillin 250/5 to 400/5. This is the same government changing our healthcare system)
4. Printing it out on tamper-proof paper.

Except for the call-in method, which does have some type of safety built in, the above methods do limit diversion to some degree.

But, while ePrescribe seems flawless, there would be no way of telling who did the ePrescribing unless there were extra precautions put in such as password and scans, etc.

One method would be for any CII through CV sent in via ePrescribe be automatically sent back to the physician prescriber on the secure site. He/She could then check daily to see if these indeed were legit.

Thoughts?

Bert
Pediatrics
Brewer, Maine