How do electronic health records (EHR) improve the accuracy of prescriptions?

Electronic health records (EHR) enhance the accuracy of prescriptions significantly by reducing manual errors and facilitating easier access to a patient's medication history. When prescriptions are entered electronically, the risk of misinterpretation that can occur with handwritten prescriptions is greatly minimized. This improves clarity and ensures that the intended medication, dosage, and instructions are correctly conveyed to the pharmacy.

Additionally, EHR systems allow healthcare providers to easily access a patient's comprehensive medication history, which assists in identifying potential drug interactions, allergies, or other contraindications specific to that patient. This knowledge helps healthcare providers make informed decisions when prescribing medications, thus further enhancing the accuracy and safety of the prescriptions issued.

While real-time notifications for medication alerts can contribute to medication safety, it is the combination of reduced manual errors and access to integrated patient information that plays a pivotal role in improving the overall accuracy of prescriptions. Storing prescriptions in paper format does not support accuracy, as it can lead to lost documents and legibility issues. Allowing patients to write their own prescriptions would not ensure accuracy or safety in the prescribing process.