How does the specific function of e-prescribing contrast with Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE)?
E-prescribing specifically targets the medication order sent externally to the pharmacy.
The documentation makes a clear distinction between these two related electronic processes. Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) is defined as the broader mechanism for the electronic ordering of any medical order within a healthcare setting, which can include treatment plans, lab tests, or medication requests made internally. Electronic prescribing (e-Rx), however, is defined much more narrowly: it is the electronic transmission of the prescription data specifically from the prescriber to an external entity, such as a pharmacy. Therefore, while CPOE is the overarching system for internal electronic ordering, e-prescribing is the targeted digital communication pathway used for dispensing medications outside the immediate clinical system.
