Bert,
In many ways eRx hasn't fulfilled the promise of increased safety, reduced cost and efficiency -- when new sources of error, complexity and fragility of the eRx infrastructure, and physician & pharmacist time and money investment are considered. I can finish a clearly written Rx and hand it to a patient in about the same time as doing an eRx, and I rarely need to take any followup action. Can't say that for eRx, especially this past few weeks.
And now to go really off topic -- as you and I and others have disputed on the Board, I also don't consider EMRs superior to my previous paper records either. Given the garbage I get frequently from many docs using "modern" EMRs, physician communication is likely worse. I'm still waiting to receive any electronic data from my regional HIE. And it's so difficult to sign onto one of the local hospitals secure website that my staff just calls to request faxed records. Not to mention the amount of time and cash I spend now nursing my own IT infrastructure.
So no, I'm not seeing that techno breakthrough for physicians or patients yet.
