Hi Paul,
I haven't had any experience with "e-prescribing" at my
practice in Oklahoma...other than FAX and telephones, hehe.
But, I have read a few articles about some of the gadgets
being offered to prescribers.  Believe it or not, the
people selling these "Palm Pilot" type e-scribes to the
various MDs, DOs, etc, are trying to get the pharmacy to
which the prescription is transmitted to pay for the Rx!
Poor docs, can't even afford a Palm Pilot now!  Those same
companies are offering the gadgets FREE to the doctors too!
So, after careful consideration of the facts as presented
to date, I give e-prescribing a "thumbs down".  Let the
ones that use the devices pay for transmittal fees.  My
gosh, pharmacy already has to pay transaction fees for our
patients' insurance processing!  Enough is enough!
Have a good one, and I'll C U L8R!
Wiz  <{;-)
Wizard57M
Glenn Gilbreath Jr.
Registered Pharmacist
http://members.surfbest.net/wizard57m@surfbest.net/index.htm
-- DOS Internet, Close Windows and Keep the Internet Open! --

I am semi retired... working  one evening a week   BUT yes I do get a
few electronic Rx's day I work...2-3 anyway...

Sorry but I honestly do not care much for them...

I can't answer that, but I wanted to post the FL law:

This is the html version of the file
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Mqa/pharmacy/info_faq-prescription.pdf.
G o o g l e automatically generates html versions of documents as we
crawl the web.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Legible Prescription Law
Q: What is the Legible Prescription Law?
Section 456.42 Florida Statutes- Written prescriptions for medicinal
drugs. --A
written prescription for a medicinal drug issued by a health care
practitioner
licensed by law to prescribe such drug must be legibly printed or typed
so as to
be capable of being understood by the pharmacist filling the
prescription; must
contain the name of the prescribing practitioner, the name and strength
of the
drug prescribed, the quantity of the drug prescribed in both textual and
numerical formats, and the directions for use of the drug; must be dated
with
the month written out in textual letters; and must be signed by the
prescribing
practitioner on the day when issued.
Q: Who Sponsored this Law?
A. Senator Wasserman-Schultz and Representative Vana.
Q: Why was this law passed?
A. The law was created in the interest of reducing prescription
errors and keeping Florida citizens and visitors safe.
Q: When was it passed?
A. The bill was signed into law by Governor Bush on May 23, 2003
and became effective on July 1, 2003.
Q. What are the basic new requirements of this law?
A. That the prescription be legibly written or typed; that the quantity
of the drug must be written in numerical and textual format (e.g. 10 -
ten); that the date of the prescription must be written in textual
letters (e.g. July 1, 2003); and that the practitioner must sign the
prescription on the day it is issued.
Q. Does the law prohibit a prescribing practitioner from using the
standard abbreviations such as “p.o. t.i.d”?
A. No.
Q. Does the law require it to be written in such a way that the patient
can read and understand it?
Page 2
A. No. The law requires that it must be capable of being understood
by the pharmacist.
Q. Does this law apply to written orders by a prescribing practitioner
in an institutional setting?
A. The law clearly references written prescriptions, not written
orders. There is a distinct difference between the two. An order
relates to administration; a prescription relates to dispensing. Thus,
in our interpretation, the law does not apply to written orders.
Q. Does the law apply to telephone prescriptions that are reduced to
writing by the pharmacist?
A. No. The law applies to a "written prescription for a medicinal
drug issued by a health care practitioner licensed by law to prescribe
such drug..." A pharmacist is not licensed by law to prescribe drugs.
Q. Does the law grant a "grace" period before it takes effect?
A. The law does not grant a "grace" period. It went into effect on
July 1, 2003. The Department’s focus in the first year will be on
education, not punishment.
Q. What if I have preprinted prescription blanks that don't contain
the required information?
A. Any information not contained on the preprinted prescription
should be hand printed.
Q: What happens if a doctor gives the patient a prescription that is
not written as required by the new law?
The pharmacist will handle the script in the same manner as it was
handled prior to July 1, 2003. If the pharmacist would have filled the
prescription on June 30, then nothing in the law prevents the
pharmacist from filling it on July 1.
Q: Is the pharmacist required to tell the Department each time a
script is missing part of the new law’s requirements?
A. There is no reporting requirement in the law, however, arguably, if
a prescription written by a health care practitioner does not meet the
requirements it could be viewed as a general violation of the law.
Page 3
Again, for the first year the department’s focus will be educational
not punishment.
Q: Is the pharmacist subject to Discipline if he/she fills a
prescription that does not meet the new requirements?
A. The law does not prohibit filling a prescription that the
pharmacist would otherwise have filled prior to July 1,2003. Keep in
mind also that pharmacists, as a routine standard of practice, have
always verified with a physician a prescription that was unclear or
illegible.
Q: Will the Board of Pharmacy be considering any rule changes?
A. Although the law doesn't grant specific rulemaking authority, the
Board of Pharmacy, at its August meeting, will consider whether or
not to draft a rule specifying the standard of practice for pharmacists
on how to handle a prescription that does not meet the new
requirements.
Q: How have pharmacists traditionally handled a prescription that
was illegible?
A. The pharmacist, as a practice standard, has always had the
responsibility of verifying an illegible prescription with the physician.
Q: Will the Department prosecute practitioners who do not write
prescriptions legibly and in the manner required by the law?
The purpose of the law is to improve patient safety by reducing
errors in prescription medications. The law does not specify how the
Department shall handle prescription writers who do not comply.
The Department will work closely with the licensing boards, health
care associations, and other interested groups to implement this law.
As with all new laws and programs, we cannot predict what will
happen in every situation, however, the Department is now focused
on how best to implement the law not on how to discipline health
care providers who are doing their best to learn and acclimate to this
new prescription format. The Department focus the first year is to
educate prescribing practitioners, pharmacists and consumers about
the law. The licensing boards have a variety of options available to
deal with violations, including a letter of advice that would be sent to
non-compliant practitioners. This would be followed by a notice of
non-compliance, and if appropriate, a citation. The licensing boards
have not yet had the opportunity to address this issue.
Page 4
Q. Will a pharmacist return a prescription to a patient if the script
does not meet the requirements?
A. The patient should not be inconvenienced by this new
requirement. Hopefully, consumers themselves, when presented
with a prescription that is illegible will clarify the drug, dosage
strength or other component of the prescription with the doctor
before taking it to the pharmacy.

There are some rather disreputable RXs coming out of Florida from
"e-prescribers" who are more than willing to write controlled substance
prescriptions for residents of our fine state (Washington).   They make the
hotline even more interesting.

Here in Washington we've had a similar law on the books and the Board of
Pharmacy also has taken a leadership role in evaluating and approving the
software systems that can be used here in WA.

Cheers,

Richard Molitor, R.Ph.
www.angelfire.com/wa/pharmacist