Whitehouse Applauds Rhode Island's Recognition as First in the Nation on Electronic Prescriptions

Whitehouse Applauds Rhode Island's Recognition as First in the Nation on Electronic Prescriptions
Former Attorney General Founded Quality Institute to Expand Information Technology in Health Care

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sheldon Whitehouse applauded Rhode Island's recognition today as the nation's leader in the use of electronic prescriptions to help reduce dangerous medical errors and streamline care. Whitehouse also congratulated Laura Adams, president of the Rhode Island Quality Institute, on her award.

"Integrating information technology into our health care system reduces avoidable medical errors, cuts health care costs, and saves lives," Whitehouse said. "Rhode Island is leading the way in improving the quality and efficiency of health care, and I'm proud to have been a part of helping us get there."

The Rhode Island Quality Institute, an organization Whitehouse founded as Attorney General to improve the quality of health care in the state, began the state's electronic prescription initiative, which uses information technology to connect doctors' offices and pharmacies. The Quality Institute is a collaborative effort between hospitals, health care providers, health insurers, the business community, and government to improve the safety and efficiency of health care in Rhode Island. Whitehouse currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Institute.

SureScripts, the largest network provider of electronic prescribing services, teamed up with the Quality Institute several years ago. SureScripts works with software companies that supply electronic health record (EHR) and electronic prescribing applications to physician practices and pharmacy technology vendors to connect their solutions to the SureScripts Electronic Prescribing Network.

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