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e-Prescribing, Efficiency, Quality: Lessons from the Computerization of UK Family Practice

^a West Virginia Medical Institute, Charleston, WV, USA
^b Health Informatics Centre, Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, Scotland
^c Primary Care Informatics, Division of Community Health Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, London, England
^d Manor Surgery, Beeston, Nottingham, England

^_* Correspondence and reprints: Charles P. Schade, MD, MPH, West Virginia Medical Institute, 3001 Chesterfield Place, Charleston, WV 25304. (Email: cschade{at}wvmi.org).

Received for publication: 12/21/05; accepted for publication: 06/06/06.

Nearly all general practice physicians (GPs) in the United Kingdom (UK) have electronic health record (EHR) systems in their practices compared with perhaps 15% of primary care physicians in the United States (U.S.). Based on interviews of 13 general GPs and review of current literature, the authors argue that the historical experience of widespread electronic health record uptake in the UK provides insight into features that might motivate broad adoption in the United States. These features include electronic prescribing, improved quality and consistency of care, practice efficiencies that have both timesaving and revenue generating effects, and potential shielding from malpractice claims.

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