The percentage of California physicians who electronically prescribe medications has increased steadily over the last few years, according to a report from Cal eConnect, the agency that oversees health information exchange in California, Healthcare IT News reports.
Key Findings
The report found that about 25% of California's physicians currently e-prescribe, up from 3% in 2007.
However, the report notes that only about 16% of eligible prescriptions are sent electronically, even though most California pharmacies are set up to receive e-prescriptions (Manos, Healthcare IT News, 2/8).
Some Counties Lagging in Pharmacy Adoption
The report also identified regional differences in e-prescribing capabilities among California counties' pharmacies.
According to the report, Alpine County is the only California county without access to at least one pharmacy capable of accepting e-prescriptions. In the remaining California counties, 70% or more of pharmacies can accept e-prescriptions.
When looking specifically at independent pharmacies, the report found that four California counties do not have at least one independent pharmacy capable of accepting e-prescriptions. The four counties are: