Are ePrescribe and eMAR the Same?
If you’re navigating the EHR market and looking for features to fit to your needs, it’s likely that Electronic Prescribing (ePrescribe) and/or the Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) might be some of the solutions you’re after. While they sound similar, ePrescribe and the eMAR offer two different types of functionality that might be relevant to your agency. So what are they – and how do they differ?
ePrescribe (eRx)
E-Prescribing allows physicians, medical practitioners and psychiatrists to electronically send prescriptions to a pharmacy instead of having to fax or call it in. Connecting the point of care directly to the pharmacy improves communication and collaboration; decreases the risk of medical error or prescription fraud; minimizes the risk of drug-to-drug or drug allergy interaction; and improves medication adherence.
When integrated with an EHR, you can manage medications, view patient history and send prescriptions – all from one place! If you are a psychiatrist or a clinician who is responsible for prescribing medication, your practice may benefit greatly from e-prescribing.
eMAR
The eMAR (electronic Medication Administration Record) is a software solution that electronically documents medication administration, vital signs, and other client observations. It displays an alert with notes when clinical actions or precautions need to be taken, enhancing patient safety.
It can assist with decision support, which is when an EHR will automatically pop-up guidance if certain client data thresholds are met. For example, if you’re entering data about your patient, the system can recognize a common course of treatment for that particular combination of diagnosis and vitals.
The EHR (electronic health record software) can pop-up a new window with treatment recommendations for the clinician… and resources for the client. You can both empower your patient with tools for their participation in treatment – while at the same time receive treatment plan guidance in your role as provider.
The eMAR can document when – where – to whom – by whom – and the dosage of a medication that’s administered; and is often connected to inventory, helping to prevent drug fraud and/or abuse within a facility. This type of tracking is also vital for audits and supporting documentation for treatment plans.
The eMAR is compliant with federal regulations and is a safe & secure way to reduce the amount of time spent on documentation. Organizations that administer medication may want to consider an EHR with eMAR functionality to help improve the quality of client care and streamline workflow.
Jerica Rossi
Jerica Rossi is a Marketing & Marketing Associate of PIMSY EHR. For more information about electronic solutions for your practice, check out Behavioral Health EHR.