Is Your ePrescribe Software Costing You Time? Here’s What to Watch For

There’s a quiet thief in many hospice workflows. It doesn’t knock. It doesn’t make a scene. But it shows up in every delay, every workaround, every hour lost to re-entered data or systems that just won’t sync. Its name? Outdated ePrescribe software. 

At first glance, your ePrescribe system might seem like it’s doing the job. It transmits electronic prescriptions, it’s integrated (mostly), and it’s what your team is used to. But if you’re seeing slowdowns in care, constant double-checking, or frustration from your nurses and prescribers, it might be time to ask: Is this tool really helping or is it quietly costing you more than you think? 

The Hidden Cost of a Clunky Workflow 

In hospice, time isn’t just money. It’s patient comfort. It’s fewer headaches for clinicians. It’s peace of mind for families. When ePrescribe software is too rigid, too slow, or doesn’t talk to your electronic health record (EHR) system, the ripple effects can be enormous. 

We’ve seen it all: software that doesn’t update in real time, prescription errors that slip through the cracks, clunky interfaces that require a dozen clicks to do one simple task. These things may sound small, but they add up. Especially when multiplied across hundreds of prescriptions and dozens of team members. 

What to Watch For

If you're wondering whether your electronic prescribing system is helping or hurting, here are a few signs it may be doing the latter: 

• Delays in processing prescriptions, especially for controlled substances. If your team is faxing or calling in scripts "just to be sure," your system isn’t doing its job. See how BetterRX eliminates phone calls.  
• Poor integration with your EHR or practice management system. If you’re jumping between screens or re-entering the same patient information in multiple places, that’s time wasted and a risk to patient safety. 
• Lack of transparency. Can your team see prescription status in real time? Can nurses track what’s been ordered, filled, and delivered without playing phone tag with the pharmacy? 
• Limited hospice-specific functionality. Most ePrescribe platforms were built for retail or outpatient settings. If yours wasn’t designed with hospice in mind, odds are you’re bending the tool to fit your needs—and that’s never cost effective.

What Makes ePrescribe Software Truly Work in Hospice? 

Not all electronic prescribing tools are created equal and we know hospice is a unique world. Unlike traditional outpatient settings, hospice care requires speed, clarity, and coordination across a dispersed team, often working under pressure. Here’s what to prioritize when evaluating or re-evaluating your ePrescribe solution: 

Real-time visibility across the care team 
Your nurses and prescribers should be able to see prescription status without chasing updates. That means transparent workflows, live order tracking, and fewer calls to the pharmacy. 

Seamless integration with your EHR and pharmacy 
Look for platforms that plug into your current systems instead of requiring clunky workarounds. The fewer the clicks and copy/pastes, the better. 

Built-in support for controlled substances 
Especially with regulations tightening, make sure your software is compliant with all current EPCS (Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances) mandates within your state. 

Hospice-specific features 
Can it support after-hours workflows? Does it accommodate formulary guidelines? Was it built with end-of-life care in mind or is it a one-size-fits-all outpatient solution? 

Speed and simplicity 
If your team needs training every time the software updates, that’s a red flag. Great software fades into the background and helps people focus on care, not technology. 

Choosing ePrescribe software is more than a checkbox decision. It’s a chance to reduce risk and ease staff workload while focusing on patient care. 

The Right Software Puts Patients First

The best ePrescribe software doesn’t just help you check a regulatory box. It actually improves patient care. It should feel like a natural part of your workflow, not a speed bump. It should reduce the risk of error, streamline communication, and make it easier for clinicians to put patients first. 

That’s the standard we aim for at BetterRX. Our solution is built from the ground up for hospice. It connects your entire care team—nurses, prescribers, and pharmacies—through one seamless platform. No re-entry. No delays. Just clear, real-time access to electronic prescriptions that improve safety and simplify the day-to-day. 

Frequently Asked (But Often Muddled) Questions

What is an e-prescribing software?

It’s a digital system that allows clinicians to write and send prescriptions electronically to a pharmacy, ideally improving accuracy, safety, and speed. 

What are the disadvantages of e-prescribing?

When the software isn’t built for your environment, it can introduce more complexity. Poor integration, lack of hospice functionality, and clunky interfaces are common complaints. 

What is the most common prescribing error?

Wrong dosage and incorrect patient information top the list. The right software helps catch these before they reach the pharmacy. 

What is the primary advantage of using e-prescribing?

Speed and safety. But only if your platform works in real time and eliminates redundancies. Otherwise, you're trading paper for something just as slow. 

Do all states require electronic prescriptions?

Most now do, especially for controlled substances. But beyond the mandate, there’s a bigger question: is your software doing more than the bare minimum? 

The Bottom Line 

The right ePrescribe software should save your team time, not take it. It should make your workflows smoother, your data more reliable, and your patient care stronger. If your current system isn’t hitting the mark, it might be time to explore one that was actually built for hospice. 

Reach out for a demo with our expert team today. 

About BetterRX

BetterRX's mission is to radically change patient care by ending medication delays that cause needless suffering. BetterRX offers efficient ordering technology, medication tracking, real-time PPD & cost alerts, and committed local pharmacies. Learn more about BetterRX, our ConnectedRX technology, what makes us Better than a PBM, and our Pharmacy partnerships.