Collaboration expands e-prescribing services to veterinary practices

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This article was originally published by Drug Topics, a sister publication to dvm360.

Surescripts is expanding its e-prescribing services to include medications ordered by veterinarians in a new partnership with DAW Systems, Inc (ScriptSure). The collaboration aims to streamline the care process for pets, potentially improving medication adherence and yielding better patient outcomes, as well as supporting the veterinarian workflow, according to a news release.¹

“Our work with DAW Systems to bring the benefits of electronic prescribing to veterinarians is yet another example of our commitment to partnership and innovation across the Surescripts Network Alliance,” said Frank Harvey, chief executive officer at Surescripts, in the release.¹ “This technology, which has supported clinicians for more than 2 decades, will also support veterinarians by reducing administrative tasks—like handwritten prescriptions, phone calls and faxes—so they can spend more meaningful time caring for our pet patients."

The new Surescripts e-prescribing service for veterinary medications will utilize the latest NCPDP SCRIPT Standard (Version 2023011) finalized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in June 2024. The use of the latest standard ensures a secure and reliable system for transmitting pet medications.

“This means participants in the Surescripts Network Alliance who complete their e-prescribing upgrade and add e-prescribing for veterinary medications will gain access to trusted, advanced prescribing tools that emphasize better quality care and prioritize patient safety,” said Kat Thorp, vice president of product commercialization at Surescripts, in the release.¹

A staggering 65% of veterinarians report feeling constantly overloaded by their workload, with 31% of veterinarians experiencing depressive episodes and 17% struggling with suicidal ideation as a result.² These numbers highlight the need for solutions to lighten veterinarians’ workload and reduce stress. By eliminating time-consuming tasks such as calling pharmacies and manually writing prescriptions, as well as reducing the risk of medication errors, e-prescribing frees up valuable time for consultations and patient care. Less time spent on addressing administrative burdens translates directly to less stress for veterinarians.

What’s more, a boom in pet ownership amid stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a 13% growth in pet medications in 2020.³ Although this surge has since stabilized, the market is expected to continue growing at a “modest but steady pace” until 2027, according to leading market research publisher Packaged Facts.⁴ This increased demand indicates a busier workflow for veterinarians; e-prescribing allows the health care professionals to handle it while maintaining a high standard of care.

The collaboration between Surescripts and DAW Systems leverages Surescripts’ established e-prescribing network, which last year processed 2.5 billion prescriptions from 1.29 million prescribers across the US.¹ This proven track record in human health care bodes well for the positive impact of e-prescribing on veterinary practices.

“We are excited to expand the benefits of Surescripts e-prescribing beyond human patients to our animal patients and the veterinarians who care for them,” said Adam Forman, chief operating officer at DAW Systems, in the release.¹ “Together, with Surescripts, we will enable veterinarian prescribers to securely transmit electronic prescriptions to retail pharmacies, streamlining the prescription process for pets, enhancing patient safety and reducing the potential for medication errors.”

References

1. Surescripts e-prescribing expands to veterinary medications. News release. Surescripts. July 16, 2024. Accessed August 29, 2024. https://surescripts.com/press-releases/surescripts-e-prescribing-expands-to-veterinary-medications
2. Steffey MA, Griffon DJ, Risselada M, et al. A narrative review of the physiology and health effects of burnout associated with veterinarian-pertinent occupational stressors. Front Vet Sci. 2023;10:1184525. doi:10.3389/fvets.2023.1184525
3. Pet medications market thrives in wake of pandemic. News release. Packaged Facts. June 8, 2021. Accessed July 19, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pet-medications-market-thrives-in-wake-of-pandemic-301308028.html
4. US pet medication market touches $12 billion. News article. GlobalPETS. July 13, 2023. Accessed July 2024. https://globalpetindustry.com/article/us-pet-medication-market-touches-12-billion