Electronic medical prescription

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cavo, Giovanni Maria

Affiliations: Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy | E-mail: giovannimaria.cavo2@unibo.it

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. E-mail: giovannimaria.cavo2@unibo.it.

Abstract: The need to simplify both the collection and transmission of “health data”, and to more carefully control the prescriptions to patients, led to starting – since the early 2000s – projects of computerization and electronic circulation of drug prescriptions. This paper aims at analyzing the Italian legislation concerning computerization of drug prescriptions, in order to identify its strengths and weaknesses and its capacity to improve health and pharmaceutical care, as well as to rationalize health care costs. In the end, the chapter analyzes the National Electronic Drug Prescription and its connection with Electronic Health Record.

Keywords: Pharmaceutical care, electronic drug prescription, pharmaceutical spending, computerization of drug prescriptions, electronic health record, national health care system

DOI: 10.3233/PPL-180455

Journal: Pharmaceuticals Policy and Law, vol. 19, no. 3-4, pp. 197-208, 2017