Electronic prescribing information available

SIG (prescription instructions), and RxNorm (standard name, dose, and form availability) were not considered ready for implementation because of numerous approaches used in these three areas across health information technology. Electronic prescribing is not required under MMA, but plans are to have it available should providers choose to use it. As standards are developed, the adoption of e-prescribing is expected to improve patient safety by reducing prescribing and dispensing errors (Agency for Healthcare Research Quality, 2007). 

Data sheets and prescribing information for most medicines available in New Zealand are currently published in the New Ethicals Compendium (See Appendix 5). Full text electronic copies of approved data sheets are being published on Medsafe s web site on an ongoing basis. 

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