Electronic prescribing has taken off, making it easier for physicians to get orders quickly and safely to the pharmacy of the patient’s choice. Yet while 70% of physicians e-prescribe, only 20% are able to electronically order controlled substances such as analgesic opioids.

And accessing the information in state prescription drug-monitoring program databases—a key tool to prevent opioid misuse or diversion—is another question altogether. It often means that physicians have to start a separate workflow with new windows, logins, and more clicks and keystrokes.

My latest for the AMA. The whole shebang.