Entering Its Prime: Southeast Michigan EPrescribing Initiative, One Of The Nation's Longest Running EPrescribing Programs, Increases Enrollment By 33 Percent; Kicks Off Seventh Year

DETROIT, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Six years ago, before smartphones were a veritable cornerstone of daily life, a few hundred physicians in Southeast Michigan joined an initiative to begin using similar handheld devices in an effort to more safely and efficiently prescribe medications for their patients. 

Today, the Steering Committee of the Southeast Michigan ePrescribing Initiative (SEMI) reports that more than 7,500 physicians in the area are actively prescribing in the program – a 33 percent increase from a year ago – and have submitted more than 40 million electronic prescriptions since the program began in 2005.  Due to this success, SEMI will continue supporting physicians in the practice of ePrescribing for a seventh consecutive year to ensure optimal use of ePrescribing and to maximize the quality and safety benefits as well as the cost savings they provide.

"In 2005, this diverse group of stakeholders came together for the common goal of improving the safety and efficiency of prescribing for physicians and patients.  We created SEMI to help advance the implementation of clinical technology in the physician office setting starting with ePrescribing, and each year, we are encouraged and excited to see that the program is making a profound and positive impact on our health care system," said Marsha Manning, Manager, Health Care Plans, General Motors.  "While we are making great strides, we still have more work to do to insure that ePrescribing is optimized.  We look forward to harnessing the momentum we have with SEMI to achieve this important goal."

SEMI was launched in 2005 to promote ePrescribing among physicians in Southeast Michigan. The coalition includes: General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler Group LLC, the  UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Health Alliance Plan, Henry Ford Medical Group, Medco Health Solutions, Inc., CVS Caremark Corporation and Catalyst Rx.

SEMI provides doctors with training and a support system to help integrate ePrescribing into their practice – two obstacles routinely cited by doctors who choose paper prescriptions over electronic prescriptions.

1 2 3 4 5 Next › Last »