title: Implementing an E-prescribing system in outpatient mental health programs.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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. rothbard@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Aileen B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rothbard
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Noll
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zubritsky
authors.forename: Matthew O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Hurford
authors.forename: Cordula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holzer
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hadley
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D055695:Electronic Prescribing; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005246:Feedback; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services; D010045:Outpatients; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents