Goldblum O M
Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Dermatol Online J. 2001 Feb;7(1):1.
The objectives of this study were: 1) to establish criteria for evaluating handheld computerized prescribing systems; and 2) to evaluate out-of-box performance and features of a new, Palm Operating System (OS)-based, handheld, wireless wide area network (WWAN) prescribing system. The system consisted of a Palm Vx handheld organizer, a Novatel Minstrel V wireless modem, OmniSky wireless internet access and ePhysician ePad 1.1, the Palm OS electronic prescribing software program.
A dermatologist familiar with healthcare information technology conducted an evaluation of the performance and features of a new, handheld, WWAN electronic prescribing system in an office practice during a three-month period in 2000. System performance, defined as transmission success rate, was determined from data collected during the three-month trial. Evaluation criteria consisted of an analysis of features found in electronic prescribing systems.
All prescriptions written for all patients seen during a three-month period (August - November, 2000) were eligible for inclusion. Prescriptions written for patients who intended to fill them at pharmacies without known facsimile receiving capabilities were excluded from the study. The performance of the system was evaluated using data collected during the study. Criteria for evaluating features of electronic prescribing systems were developed and used to analyze the system employed in this study.
During this three-month trial, 200 electronic prescriptions were generated for 132 patients included in the study. Of these prescriptions, 92.5 percent were successfully transmitted to pharmacies. Transmission failures resulted from incorrect facsimile numbers and non-functioning facsimile machines. Criteria established for evaluation of electronic prescribing systems included System (Hardware & Software), Costs, System Features, Printing & Transmission, Formulary & Insurance, Customization, Drug Safety and Security.
This study is the first effort to establish comprehensive criteria for evaluating handheld prescribing systems and to evaluate the performance and features of a handheld, electronic prescribing system. The results demonstrated that the evaluated system: 1) was simple to install; 2) successfully interfaced with a commonly used practice management system; 3) was user-friendly and easy to operate; 4) offered a robust variety of standard features; and, 5) resulted in a high rate of success for transmitting electronic prescriptions. The criteria established for the evaluation of features of an electronic prescribing system can be used to critically evaluate the performance and features of other handheld and personal computer-based electronic prescribing systems.
本研究的目的是：1）建立评估手持式计算机处方系统的标准；2）评估一种基于Palm操作系统（OS）的新型手持式无线广域网（WWAN）处方系统的开箱即用性能和功能。该系统由一台Palm Vx手持式管理器、一台Novatel Minstrel V无线调制解调器、OmniSky无线互联网接入以及ePhysician ePad 1.1（Palm OS电子处方软件程序）组成。
一位熟悉医疗信息技术的皮肤科医生在2000年的三个月期间，在门诊实践中对一种新型手持式WWAN电子处方系统的性能和功能进行了评估。系统性能定义为传输成功率，根据三个月试验期间收集的数据确定。评估标准包括对电子处方系统中各项功能的分析。
2000年8月至11月这三个月期间为所有就诊患者开具的所有处方均符合纳入标准。为打算在没有已知传真接收功能的药店取药的患者开具的处方被排除在研究之外。使用研究期间收集的数据评估系统性能。制定了评估电子处方系统功能的标准，并用于分析本研究中使用的系统。
在这三个月的试验中，为研究中纳入的132名患者开具了200份电子处方。其中，92.5%的处方成功传输到了药店。传输失败是由于传真号码错误和传真机故障。为评估电子处方系统制定的标准包括系统（硬件和软件）、成本、系统功能、打印与传输、处方集与保险、定制、药物安全与保障。
本研究首次努力建立评估手持式处方系统的综合标准，并评估一种手持式电子处方系统的性能和功能。结果表明，所评估的系统：1）安装简单；2）成功与常用的实践管理系统对接；3）用户友好且易于操作；4）提供了丰富多样的标准功能；5）电子处方传输成功率高。为评估电子处方系统功能而制定的标准可用于严格评估其他手持式和基于个人计算机的电子处方系统的性能和功能。
