Electronic prescription specialist notes growth in interoperability

In the annual Surescripts national report, the results for the use of technology in healthcare shows that interoperability continues its growth trend.

Surescript, a health information network specializing in electronic prescriptions, analyzed more than 9.7 billion health data transactions to conclude just how well the transition from paper to digital has gone. With a 48 percent growth in health data transactions from the past year, the transition appears to be going well.

The Surescript network has grown in leaps and bounds this year, connecting physicians and patients has almost been a breeze for the company. Results from the annual report included:

• 3.8 million electronic prescriptions were filled per day.
• 77 of prescriptions were digital, an increase from last year’s rate of 67 percent.
• More than one million clinicians were provided access to 240 million patient records.
• A total of 1.4 billion electronic prescriptions were processed, along with 1.1 billion medication histories and 15.3 million clinical messages.
• The number of providers using electronic prescribing for controlled substances increased 359 percent, resulting in a 600 percent increase in e-prescriptions for such medications.

“The benefits of interoperability are made more and more clear as the Surescripts network continues to expand with new connections, new capabilities and new markets,” said Tom Skelton, CEO of Surescripts. “Our network brings together pharmacists, doctors, hospitals and payors who are embracing trusted technology and sharing health information on a much wider scale, driving increased efficiency and cost savings.” 

Since 2010, the amount of medical histories processed by Surescript has more than quadrupled, saving hospitals more than $400 million, prevented over 25,000 patient readmissions and 15,000 adverse drug events, according to the company. Surescript also entered the long-term and post-acute care network, bringing full functionality like electronic prior authorization and patient record sharing to clinicians.