E-prescribing is a powerful concept with two big problems, one insurmountable.
One is the fact that the e-prescribing process is currently slow and painful. This can be probably be overcome, in time, with better UI technology, but currently it is a logjam, and busy doctors can't afford the delay.
The bigger issue relates to loss of physician autonomy. The diversion of all prescribing through a single electronic clearing-house will obviously allow the people controlling the system a great deal of control over how physicians practice medicine.
They will be much more able to analyze our prescribing habits and penalize the ones they don't like -- stopping us in our tracks with instant pop-ups, emails and phone calls when we prescribe in a manner that displeases them.
This is inescapable. This power may not be used much, if at all, AT FIRST. But, we will have a choker chain around our neck, ready for a correcting jerk when somebody wants to bad enough.
You all know the famous saying about how controlling doctors is like herding cats? E-prescribing is a cat-herding device. Mark my words.
