What about electronic prescribing?

Fax direct from a password-protected EMR is currently the recommended electronic method of transmission. The password protocol is the prescriber’s direct authorization. For physicians participating in the PrescribeIT (Canada Health Infoway) pilot, the same considerations apply.

The following scenarios are acceptable:

• Prescriptions produced by computer, then hand-signed by a physician or with an electronic signature that is hand-initialed by the physician and given to a patient to take to a pharmacy.
• Prescriptions produced by computer, then hand-signed by a physician or with an electronic signature that is hand-initialed by the physician and faxed to a pharmacy of the patient’s choice.
• Prescriptions transmitted in a secure closed electronic system. A digitally captured signature using a hardware device and software for authentication is acceptable. In this case, the EMR’s password protocol is considered direct authorization. However, the physician must log in and transmit the prescription themselves if using this method (cannot delegate).

For best practices, refer to CPSA’s Prescribing: Administration Advice to the Profession.