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Implementing an E-Prescribing System in Outpatient Mental Health Programs

  • Research - Practice Relationships
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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 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

    Aileen B. Rothbard, Elizabeth Noll, Cynthia Zubritsky, Matthew O. Hurford & Trevor Hadley

  2. School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Aileen B. Rothbard

  3. Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Aileen B. Rothbard & Cynthia Zubritsky

  4. University of Indiana, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Eri Kuno

  5. Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Matthew O. Hurford

  6. Wilmington VA Medical Center, Elsmere, DE, USA

    Cordula Holzer

Authors
  1. Aileen B. Rothbard
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  2. Elizabeth Noll
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  3. Eri Kuno
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  4. Cynthia Zubritsky
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  5. Matthew O. Hurford
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  6. Cordula Holzer
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  7. Trevor Hadley
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Correspondence to Aileen B. Rothbard.

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Rothbard, A.B., Noll, E., Kuno, E. et al. Implementing an E-Prescribing System in Outpatient Mental Health Programs. Adm Policy Ment Health 40, 168–178 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-011-0392-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-011-0392-6

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