What central role did Surescripts fulfill in enabling broad US e-prescribing connectivity?
Creating the interoperable network that allowed disparate systems to communicate securely across state lines
While the regulatory framework (like the HITECH Act) provided the push for adoption, specialized companies were needed to build the underlying technical pathways for communication. Surescripts is highlighted as a central player in the US context because it was responsible for creating the necessary interoperable network infrastructure. This network was the mechanism that allowed various, often disparate, EHR systems used by prescribers to securely communicate with numerous different pharmacy systems, even across state boundaries. This established network capability transformed simple computerized ordering within one facility into true, widespread e-prescribing across the national landscape.
