Well, I received permission to be long winded from HockeyRef on another blog so I'm going to use it again
While all the corporate antics are concerning to me, I prefer eprescribing. In my state, most scripts have to go on tamper proof scripts. According to CMS, the faxing of scripts loses HIPAA compliance at the end of this year. Without eprescribing, that could be a nightmare.
I have chosen to keep my lists on the free NEPSI site. I find it safer for me and the patient. I can track refills much better. My nurse has access to the site so she can do refills that I authorize. All refills go through me first. We don't waste time faxing back and forth. In rural Missouri, pharmacists sometimes completely switch the drug I order to one they have been incentivized to sell. This way, I also get access to exactly what it is they fill. I have not had that problem since using erx.
When I signed up for AC I was told that eprescribing would become "free" with Version 4. I am waiting excitedly for that because I do not want to pay for something that is free.
I do agree that Allscripts is just using this as a ploy because we will all have to pay for it one way or another some day. The customer service is inconsistent. There are some really helpful folks and some who have literally told me that since this is a free service, I really don't have a right to an opinion.
Medicine marches on as does time. I'm just trying to find the tools that help me deliver the best, safest care I can to my patients.
