Abstract
This study describes the implementation and evaluation of an electronic prescription ordering system and feedback report in
three community-based mental health outpatient agencies and the usefulness of the system in improving psychiatrists’ prescribing
behavior. Using the e-prescribing system as a data collection tool, feedback on evidence based prescribing practices for patients
diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder or major affective disorder was provided to agency directors and prescribers
via a monthly report. The results of the project were that e-prescribing tools can be installed at a reasonable cost with
a short start up period. Although the feedback intervention did not show a significant reduction in questionable prescribing
patterns, we should continue to investigate how to best use HIT to improve safety, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of
healthcare. A better understanding of what prescribers find useful and the reasons why they are prescribing non-evidenced
based medications is needed if interventions of this type are to be effective. Given the availability of administrative claims
data and electronic prescribing technology, considerable potential exists to provide useful information for monitoring and
clinical decision making in public mental health systems.
three community-based mental health outpatient agencies and the usefulness of the system in improving psychiatrists’ prescribing
behavior. Using the e-prescribing system as a data collection tool, feedback on evidence based prescribing practices for patients
diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder or major affective disorder was provided to agency directors and prescribers
via a monthly report. The results of the project were that e-prescribing tools can be installed at a reasonable cost with
a short start up period. Although the feedback intervention did not show a significant reduction in questionable prescribing
patterns, we should continue to investigate how to best use HIT to improve safety, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of
healthcare. A better understanding of what prescribers find useful and the reasons why they are prescribing non-evidenced
based medications is needed if interventions of this type are to be effective. Given the availability of administrative claims
data and electronic prescribing technology, considerable potential exists to provide useful information for monitoring and
clinical decision making in public mental health systems.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research – Practice Relationships
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10488-011-0392-6
- Authors
- Aileen B. Rothbard, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2648, USA
- Elizabeth Noll, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2648, USA
- Eri Kuno, University of Indiana, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Cynthia Zubritsky, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2648, USA
- Matthew O. Hurford, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2648, USA
- Cordula Holzer, Wilmington VA Medical Center, Elsmere, DE, USA
- Trevor Hadley, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2648, USA
- Journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
- Online ISSN 1573-3289
- Print ISSN 0894-587X