Changelog mentions support for e-prescribing via RelayHealth, but there is no documentation on how this is done.
Does anyone have information on how to use e-prescribing via OpenEMR?
Also I’m guessing we have to sign up for e-prescribing; if so, where do we sign up for e-prescribing (do we have to sign up via RelayHealth or via Phyaura as code seems to be written by phyaura.com but it looks like it may try to connect to relayhealth.com)?
If this has to be done via the above companies are there any costs involved (if so is there anyone using this that can give an idea of what the costs are)?
PHYAURA has been working very closely with RelayHealth to provide the OpenEMR community with a solution that will aid in obtaining certification. The code donated is a single sign on function that enables users to log into a certified e-prescribing system from the main interface of OpenEMR.
We are resellers of their complete suite of online services. The cost to e-prescribe is $69.99 per provider per month after a $300 setup fee.
As a practicing physician, it has made my practice much more efficient. We send prescriptions, renewals and pharmacy communications via the web browser based system.
We have done away with the prescription functions in OpenEMR and rely solely on PHYAURA e-prescribing to manage medications.
Medication lists can be imported by importing PDF files into the document sections. We are currently working on the next phase which will port demographic information to the system and import prescribed medications into the summary/issues section in the bottom left frame.
You said: "We have done away with the prescription functions in OpenEMR and rely solely on PHYAURA e-prescribing to manage medications."
1. Does that mean that e-prescribing is done by opening browser windows separate from OpenEMR or can we e-prescribe from within OpenEMR without having to open separate browser windows?
2. If it is possible to e-prescribe directly from within OpenEMR could you walk us through the process of writing and sending an e-prescription from within the OpenEMR interface?
3. Is there some list where we can find out which local pharmacies support e-prescribing? For any patients who may choose a pharmacy that does not yet support e-prescribing can we still use the current prescription functions in OpenEMR at the same time for them?
4. While the prices stated above are not enormous, for a very small practice the benefit may not outweigh the cost. Are there any pricing policies that may help a practice with few patients?
1. Yes. e-prescribing is opened in a new browser window. Performing e-prescribing within OpenEMR is a huge task that we looked into several years ago. This would require purchasing and maintaining a drug database, interaction databases, etc… This was cost prohibitive to us and we think to the community.
3. 95% of pharmacies nationwide are connected to the only :-( e-prescribing clearinghouse to date. Pharmacies that are connected will receive an electronic message, like an email, in their system alerting them of a new prescription. If they are not connected, PHYAURA e-prescribing will send a fax to that particular pharmacy and there are mechanisms in place to encourage those pharmacies to get on board.
Here is a link to find out who is connected…
4. I have a ROI calculator that details how even a small practice will realize a terrific return and improve not only patient care but also their own quality of life. I can forward this to you if you send me a private message. I am no longer tied down to the office as I can take care of simple prescription renewals anywhere. My office staff aid me in entering the prescriptions and all I do most of the time is verify and click send. There are currently no pricing policies to help a very small practice. The costs are per provider and not per usage. If that practice accepts Medicare, there is a 2% bonus available when certain codes are submitted. Medicare will penalize the physician 0.5% in 2012 if they are not e-prescribing so one must consider that.
I was linked to this forum from the oemr.org home page which states:
Major features of OpenEMR include:
…
…
* E-Prescribing
That is VERY misleading.
If Performing e-prescribing within OpenEMR is not possible I think the statement should be definitely taken down from the website.
I was looking for EMR that can e-prescribe, we can already do this via a separate browser window (even free, without cost see: http://www.nationalerx.com/ ).
I am not in any way bashing Phyaura as I’m sure it must have some advantages for the extra cost. But am disappointed that e-prescribing cannot be done from OpenEMR when it is claimed as a feature. I was attracted to OpenEMR because of this claim to begin with.
I think a better phrase may be that there is e-prescribing support available within OpenEMR. We could have opened the e-presribing software within a frame in OpenEMR but we did not think this was the best option as the frames can be small. Would this interest anyone?
Most EMR’s with embedded e-prescribing solutions acutally use a third parties to perform these functions and are very expensive. We plan to fully integrate PHYAURA e-prescribing by creating HL7 connections between the 2 systems.
Although the National eRx program is great and yes FREE, I have been in the field long enough to see FREE services like this go to paid services and then practices are stuck.
I am not sure if a frame to an outside web page could be could still be considered as support available within OpenEMR.
I am working on something that would put the relative information from the plan from the SOAP note into the prescription so that we do not have to enter the same information more than once (especially useful for medications prescribed more frequently, and with medications that are commonly used in relation to the analysis from the soap note - I am even trying to have the system suggest most common treatments based on info from soap note). My purpose is to get the above mentioned functionality working from an n810 minitablet - which, because of size, I don’t know if this would be possible. If it could fit (without requiring lot’s of scrolling nor ultra-small text size) then I am willing to look into this until above mentioned HL7 connections are possible.
OpenEMR can currently store all prescription data, fax from the server to a pharmacy, and also print sheets which can in-turn be faxed or taken to the pharmacy. It doesn’t perfectly fit people’s notion of ePrescribing.
To me, not a physician, the best way to integrate ePrescribing into OpenEMR is:
** Store all prescription data in OpenEMR’s database
This is already being done.
** New and refilled prescriptions are checked for interactions
Perhaps Phyaura could create a seamless external interface for OpenEMR. The interface could use SOAP ( http://us.php.net/soap ) or some other industry standard electronic interchange format that can be made highly secure. What does Phyaura use to exchange data with pharmacies? The data exchange would check for interactions and suggest corrections to the prescription. Once the physician has reviewed and approved the prescription it is then sent back to Phyaura who then sends the data to the pharmacy.
** OpenEMR gets updates from ePrescriptions
When a client is opened in OpenEMR and a new prescription is about to be made OpenEMR connects with Phyaura to see if there are any new or refilled prescriptions that the physician did not previously know about. In this situations both Phyaura and OpenEMR are keeping track of an individual’s prescription history. I don’t know if Phyaura currently does something like that.
** Unique access
Each transaction with Phyaura would be checked and verified with the Agency or physician that has subscribed to Phyaura’s service. This keeps the transactions unique and safe.
I’ve put forward those ideas for talking points. None of them, as far as I know, are built into OpenEMR at the moment but if they were it could make ePrescriptions seamless between OpenEMR and the ePrescriber clearinghouse.