ePrescribing is at the top of the list of e-health applications that will see the greatest growth in the months and years ahead, according to executives participating in a new exclusive survey. Some 39.1 percent of participants predict ePrescribing will be the most widely embraced e-health application.

"ePrescribing: How Regulatory, Social, Economic and Technological Factors Are Now Driving the Adoption of eRx," takes the transcript of the recent audio conference on electronic prescriptions and provides it to you in a readable format including complete text of speaker presentations and conference "handout" material.

Here is what will push adoption even more quickly: the new Medicare Prescription Drug law requires that the Secretary of Health and Human Services "shall promulgate final standards for electronic prescribing no later than April 1, 2008. The final standards will follow a set of initial standards (to be issued no later than September 1, 2005) and a 1-year pilot project for the initial standards that begins January 1, 2006."

This one-of-a-kind discussion of the current trends in ePrescribing captures the thinking of two leading experts on the subject, as well as the work-a-day experiences of a practicing physician who is using this technology in his practice.

This senior-level program includes:

• Current trends in ePrescribing
• Key features of an ePrescribing system
• Factors driving the growth of eRx
• Identifying the obstacles to overcome for eRx
• "Stakeholder" issues
• Technological developments
• Economic drivers
• Industry experience with ePrescribing
• ePrescribing business applications
• Benefits of ePrescribing
• Available technology
• Impact on the healthcare industry

In this report you'll learn the factors driving the adoption of ePrescribing, including the growth of PDA usage, the demand, patient safety and avoidance of medication errors, and the impact of eRx on the managed care and pharmaceutical industries.

The panel of expert presenters includes:

• Gary Austin, Director IT Strategy and Health Management Systems, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
• Louis Hyman, Executive Vice President and CTO, Ramp Corporation (formerly Medrix).
• Dr. Andrew Baumel of Framingham Pediatrics

Speakers' Background:

• Gary Austin is responsible for tactical oversight and delivery of all health management systems supporting utilization, disease, case, and population management.
• Louis Hyman has a wealth of experience in developing healthcare connectivity solutions, physician practice management systems, and advanced Web-based applications targeted to physicians and health insurers.
• Dr. Baumel is one of the first physicians participating in the BCBSMA electronic prescribing pilot project. He has been using eRx since January 2003

If you are involved in the administration of your organization's prescription drug management, order this report of the proceedings of "ePrescribing: How *Regulatory, Social, Economic and Technological Factors Are Now Driving the Adoption of eRx" today.

This 46-page report of the proceedings also includes an enlightening series of questions and answers on such topics as initial capital cost, electronic medical records, data control, data collection and dissemination, realized savings, pharmaceutical company incentives and real-time interface.

This report could not be more timely. In Washington there is bi-partisan support among lawmakers for adoption of e-health progress. President Bush has called for electronic connectivity. President Bush wants a paperless health care system in ten years or less.

The President recently appointed Dr. David Brailer as the new National Health Information Technology Coordinator for the Department of Health and Human Services.

The new Medicare Prescription Drug Act lays out timelines and deadlines for electronic prescribing.

This program material is available exclusively from the Managed Care Information Center.

You can use this material in connection with planning for your organization's entry into managing an ePrescribing system.

ePrescribing impacts managed care organizations, hospitals, and physician organizations, hospice, home health agencies and other healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical benefit management companies.

Be ready for the ePrescribing future. Order your copy of "ePrescribing: How Regulatory, Social, Economic and Technological Factors Are Now Driving the Adoption of eRx" today.

ePrescribing is required under The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, P.L. 108-173