yehster wrote on Monday, April 25, 2011:
Is anyone already working on ePrescribing for the official version of OpenEMR? If not, I might look into trying implement it. If someone is already working on it, I would be interested in helping.
johnbwilliams wrote on Monday, April 25, 2011:
yes, an interface to NewCrop is in the works
yehster wrote on Monday, April 25, 2011:
NewCrop looks like it is a standalone prescribing app. Am I correct?
Then NewCrop ultimately submits to surescripts?
Can your share further specifications/details of this integration/interface?
I am curious as to why this interface goes through NewCrop, rather than simply submitting to Surescripts directly?
I suspect it is because you are already using NewCrop.
johnbwilliams wrote on Monday, April 25, 2011:
it will be an OpenEMR-integrated e-Rx interface
Very few EHR vendors, only the biggest, have a direct relationship with Surescripts. Most EHR vendors integrate with a SureScripts reseller like NewCrop.
NewCrop knows how to work with open source EHRs. They provide the e-Rx for WorldVistA.org and Tolven too.
We do not have an existing relationship with NewCrop - NewCrop is stepping up to the plate to get OpenEMR e-Rx done for certification.
yehster wrote on Monday, April 25, 2011:
I am starting to understand a little better. When looking at the supported EMRs on Surescripts’ web page, I see a lot of them that use NewCrop.
Do we have a contact at NewCrop? Do they need someone with knowledge of openemr to assist with the integration?
biller2 wrote on Monday, April 25, 2011:
I stumbled across this and was wondering if this might be an option. It mentions that it is provided without cost by Allscripts and the members of NEPSI but don’t know if it will interface with openemr. Hopefully this information is helpful. The link is
http://www.nationalerx.com/index.htm
John
yehster wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
The software being offered from that nationaerx website is
http://www.allscripts.com/eprescribe
There is a free basic version and a $20/month deluxe version.
I have sent them a contact request.
However, because their product is a web based system, it might be possible to integrate with them without much assistance from them.
The approach would be to use browser-side, cross-site scripting. This would require the use of a browser add-on to transfer data from OpenEMR to the ePrescribing website.
Here is generally what would happen.
When the user wants to generate a prescription after he has entered the information in OpenEMR, upon clicking the button to prescribe, the following things would then happen.
1. OpenEMR server generates a webpage which contains the information that the ePrescribing system will need. (patient demographics, medication information, etc…)
2. The browser-side add-on, parses the information for later use and then redirects the user’s browser to the ePrescription website.
3. The user logs in as if he were using ePrescribing as a standalone system.
4. The user navigates to the screen or screens where he would enter the required information.
5. As the plug-in detects a web form that it recognizes, it fills in the fields from the data provided from OpenEMR.
6. The physician submits the form.
A big disadvantage of this approach is that if allscripts changes the user interface, it has a large chance of breaking the integration.
I have contacted allscripts, but I’m not sure how receptive they are going to be to the idea of collaborating as I’m sure they’d rather have you use their system than OpenEMR.
https://eprescribe.allscripts.com/help/faq.aspx
7. Can this program interface with my EMR/EHR?
At this time we are only able to interface the Allscripts ePrescribe application with either Allscripts EHR or the Misys EHR’s.
mike-h30 wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
I have contacted allscripts, but I’m not sure how receptive they are going to be to the idea of collaborating as I’m sure they’d rather have you use their system than OpenEMR.
I don’t like the idea having to use someone else’s EMR. It’s OpenEMR or the highway for us. And hopefully no Windows based e-prescribing either. Nothing beats the stability and freedom of Linux. Just my three cents.
-Mike
bradymiller wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
hey,
My three cents is that one option is better than no options 
-brady
jcahn2 wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
Ahoy,
As I see it we would not “use” another “EMR”. We would use the web page interface that Allscripts , National eRX, Dr First, Newcrop, or whoever provides to connect to SureScripts. I think the majority of ePrecribing emrs are using these web interfaces. There may be a few of the big boy emrs that have a direct communication to SureScripts, but until we rule the known universe, I don’t think a direct link will happen. I think SureScripts wants it that way. Jack
ajperezcrespo wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
Well their solution uses .NET Encryption Test Harness. I wonder if there is a Mono equivalent?
Jack, expand your horizons don’t limit yourself the the known universe. Lets go beyond sites and facilities!! Alternate, parallel, and cross-dimensional OpenEMR installations sound good to me!
My 5 cents. Now I am broke again.
mike-h30 wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
Well their solution uses .NET Encryption Test Harness.
Might as well put the MS shackles on me now. Freedom was nice while it lasted
tmccormi wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
I wouldn’t let that happen
-Tony
yehster wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
Well their solution uses .NET Encryption Test Harness. I wonder if there is a Mono equivalent?
Who uses .NET? NewCropRx? Allscripts ePrescribe?
mike-h30 wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
I wouldn’t let that happen
Thanks Tony!
**SIGH OF RELIEF**
-Mike
ajperezcrespo wrote on Friday, April 29, 2011:
Allscripts - Allscripts ePrescribe 15.2.0
Certifying ATCB: Drummond Group Inc. | CHPL Product Number: 02022011-1067-1
Classification: Modular EHR | Practice Setting:Ambulatory
Additional Software Required:.NET Encryption Test Harness
If a Mono (Opensource .Net solution) exists and is compatible with Allscripts it’s definitely possible to get by on opensource with out the shackles. Here is the link to the Mono .Net stuff. http://www.mono-project.com/Cryptography
Alfonso
yehster wrote on Saturday, April 30, 2011:
Would a physician who is running linux be willing to help us with a test? Can someone sign up for ePrescribe and see if it works under linux?
I seem to think that
Additional Software Required:.NET Encryption Test Harness
refers to software needed during Allscripts’ certification process with Drummond Group and isn’t something that you need when actually using the system.
https://eprescribe.allscripts.com/help/faq.aspx
Their FAQ says
12. What type of computer do I need?
You can use any type of computer, as long as it is connected to the internet. The speed of the application will vary depending on the type of broadband connection that your organization currently utilizes. Click here for more information regarding hardware.
13. What type of operating system do I need?
Almost any type of operating system that can read a web page via the internet will work with ePrescribe.
marka1211 wrote on Sunday, May 01, 2011:
I use Allscripts ePrescribe from my Linux/Firefox computer without any problem. Is that what you are asking?
mdsupport wrote on Monday, May 02, 2011:
We currently use Allscripts ePrescribe (the free version). It is a standalone version without any EMR stuff. The only record maintained is the patient demograpic. When we started, we used their administrative functions to import limited patient demographic data (name, address and DoB) taking care to use the identical patient IDs in both systems.
In absence of a true Prescribing interface from OpenEMR, here is what we do:
1. Providers have one tab open to ePrescribe application.
2. Prescriptions are entered by staff for the patients making sure their pharmacy choices are set in the ePrescribe.
3. Providers approve the prescriptions.
4. At the end of the day we use the ePrescribe’s report to extract the successful prescriptions and import them in OpenEMR using a batch upload tool.
(Known and accepted) problems with this approach:
1. No integration so we periodically have to correct the new patient information. Fortunately ePrescribe assigns an alpha ID. So the new patients records are very easy to locate.
2. We also need to keep changed information in sync.
3. Not a real time solution but providers seem to be OK with the workaround.
4. Despite several requests, Allscripts does not include DoB in the reports. So we have a problem in few cases where there are patients with identical name & DoB. Rare but we have 4 such cases!
5. In today’s world, copying data from the report to update another system does not look good and is a manual step that we needed to train staff several times.
We haven’t heard anything about .Net stuff since some providers are using iPads but may be their paid version or the integrated version needs that.
tmccormi wrote on Tuesday, May 03, 2011:
Very nice work flow write up. Thanks Do you have a import script/tool or did you decide that it was not worth it to use their import after all and just went to manual entry?
-Tony