With a few rapid clicks at a computer, doctors at MCG Health System can select a medication, check for interactions and side effects and present a printed prescription to patients.

Say goodbye to pen and paper and say hello to the future: computer-based, electronic prescription writing.

MCG Health System recently debuted the new tool throughout its Ambulatory Care Center and other practice sites. “An electronic prescription can reduce the risk of inadvertent errors due to illegible handwriting,” said Hal Scott, Chief Information Officer at MCG Health System. “In addition, physicians are able to immediately check for potential interactions and side effects and help educate patients.”

In 2004, President George W. Bush called for the widespread use of electronic medical records by year 2014 to help lower costs, reduce medical errors, improve quality of care, and provide better information for patients and providers. “Two years earlier than that, we began transitioning from paper to electronic,” said Scott. “While most of these changes have been behind-the-scenes, some have directly impacted our patients. Along with electronic prescription writing, we have also debuted My HealthLink in three of our practice sites, which is a secure web site where patients can manage their own medical record.”

The prescription writing tool will soon be upgraded to allow physicians to send electronic prescriptions directly to pharmacies. The health system is also continuing work toward an entirely paperless medical record. The next step will include further refinements in the computerized physician order entry system.

MCG Health System is composed of three separate organizations -- MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the MCG Physicians Practice Group Foundation. The physicians of MCG Health System are community physicians, faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia, or employees of the MCG Physicians Practice Group Foundation, not employees of MCG Health, Inc.  MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the MCG Physicians Practice Group Foundation and community physicians to deliver the highest level of primary and specialty health care.  For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.