jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Doctors in New York must send prescriptions electronically. They will be fined if they use paper, and the telephone cannot be used. My doctor has been doing that for a couple of years, but I didn't know it was required. It's not as reliable as paper, though. I went for a blood test, but they had no Rx for me. My son had trouble getting a Rx filled for a few days because of a hitch between the doctor and the pharmacy.

grillmaster5062

The problem with all technology is that it is still built and operated by humans! Sounds like a money grab by the state. Nothing will ever be perfect.

Trentc Loc: Denver, CO

Actually, it is an attempt to address the rampant problem of prescription fraud and the abuse of prescription drugs, which is typically perpetrated by the theft and forgery of prescription forms. Not sure how a state financially benefits from a doctor's office sending a prescription to a pharmacy?

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

sounds like a method to stop the theft of prescription pads, I think the last couple of paper prescriptions my wife received were by request for traveling (emergency use) and computer generated at that time, regular Doc has been sending off his PDA for years, side benefit the script is usually ready when we arrive at the pharmacy up the street from the house.

grillmaster5062

As long as you live in a moderate to large city the electronic prescriptions are ok. If you are in the boondocks, you might not even get internet service.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Definitely, although it could also be an attempt to cut down on the cost of ball point pen ink - and paper. :D

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Interesting how they have it opposite that of California for certain prescriptions. Here Schedule One drugs and similar controlled substances like Adderal (dextro-Amphetamine) for say ADD/ADHD or Sertraline / Zoloft (depression / anxiety) you must present a signed paper prescription from your doctor in person and not a Fax or Phone or Email prescription. And there are no refills on these, you need a new prescription each time (say each month). And for something like Morphine Sulfate you'd think you were handling Plutonium! A Rx for narcotic opium drugs you practically need a bill of the State Senate and the signature of the State Governor. And more Morphine you have to account for nearly each and every molecule used or residue.

EdM Loc: FN30JS

seems to be working... as far as California goes...land of fruits and nuts

jaksr

Being connected to the medical community, in principal it is a good way to help decrease abuse but some prescriptions never get transmitted, some go to the wrong pharmacy but you can't eliminate human error totally. Good idea but dont agree with peanalties for some % of handwritten prescriptions.

EdM Loc: FN30JS

well, some physicians seem to have aced the coarse
"Illeg handwriting:101"

WALL

We are paying a high price for the bad actors. The PC types now control the language . We have an epidemic of drug use. One would think people are getting it from toilet seats.
Since the sixties we have been turning the world upside down keep up the notion that the society is responsible for criminal behavior. I think it is the criminal.

MikeFromMT Loc: So Cal & MT

As a physician I use both methods in California. At my regular work location I only use electronic but that only goes to our in system pharmacy. If I see a patient who is not a Kaiser member, or one who is a Kaiser member who has pharmacy coverage other than through Kaiser, I have to write a paper Rx. Let me tell you, paper is a pain. It is so much easier electronic. For meds that are weight based I don't have to calculate out the dosages. And for those who come in and need multiple prescriptions writing is painful. Electronic is just a few clicks. On a related but different topic, has anybody tried to get Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) for congestion over the counter. It is as if you are a criminal. You have to show proof of ID and get logged into a book and you cannot purchase any more than a certain amount in any given day. (of course you can go to multiple pharmacies). This is so you don't go home and make meth or something else. I guarantee that those who are using Sudafed as a base for other illegal drugs are not getting it at the local Wal-Mart and logging in like a dutiful law abiding citizen (sounds like other types of control, doesn't it?)

tbetress Loc: Skippack, Pa

Interesting, in Pa Schedule 2 drugs have to have a paper prescription and are not allowed to be done electronically (wife is a Pharmacist).

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Most of our prescriptions are transmitted electronically to the pharmacy too. The hitch I most often encounter is when are they transmitted, ie after the Doc's office hours, in the evening, next morning, etc--you never know. Then arriving at the pharmacy are told "we haven't received the prescription" or "we don't stock it, we'll try to get it for you tomorrow (or worse "a couple of days")" . This is especially true of some newer high cost drugs, and refills may have to be ordered a week in advance.

jct842

In arkansas at walmart I was told I needed a prescription to get sudafed for the worst cold I think I ever had. Needless to say I did not get it as I go to the va and it would have took a week or more to get in to see a doctor.