GE Healthcare ePrescribing Solution Approved in Ohio

GE Healthcare's ePrescribing solution, which uses fingerprint-scanning technology to verify a doctor's identity before they order medications, has been approved by the Ohio Pharmacy Board for use by the state's physicians.

Announced on Monday, GE executives said the technology met Ohio's stringent ePrescribing requirements by successfully integrating biometrics technology into its Centricity Electronic Medical Record solution. By adding an external scanner, the technology calls for physicians to identify themselves by providing their fingerprint before ordering a patient's prescription.

"When we first set the module up, each clinician with access to it places a finger on an external keypad. The fingerprint is scanned and stored. Each time that clinician orders a medication for a patient, he or she must scan that same finger again. If the prints match, the order goes through," explains Jim Corrigan, vice president and general manager of GE Healthcare IT.

As the healthcare industry becomes increasingly concerned about medical fraud, GE executives predict that many states will replicate Ohio's pharmacy law. The Centricity EMR's Advanced ePrescribing solution provides an extra layer of authentication and documentation required by the Ohio law and which helps prevent forgery.